SAQUE Pierre (EN)

Pierre Saqué, little-known antique dealer

Asian objects occasionally appear in contemporary sales and exhibitions (Crick M. and Truong P., 2022, p. 238) with a label bearing the name 'Saqué' and one of three different addresses including "pierre saqué - 12, av. george V", "DUPUY & SAQUE - 6 rue Saint-Georges" and "PIERRE SAQUE - 6, Rue St. Georges". These works are mainly Chinese ceramics, such as sancai (three-colour) glazes and blanc de Chine (Dehua porcelain).

Saqué's name also appears alongside the first of these addresses in the directory of curiosities and fine arts dating from 1924 to 1932 (Annuaire de la curiosité et des beaux-arts : Paris, départements, étrangers, 1924, p. 227; 1925, p. 297; 1926, p. 319; 1927, p. 326; 1928, p. 284; 1929, p. 288; 1930, p. 285; 1931, p. 274; 1932, p. 255). It appears, too, alongside the second address in the Didot-Bottin trade directory between 1922 and 1928 (Annuaire du commerce Didot-Bottin, 1922 (T4), p. 1850; 1922 (T1), p. 152; 1925, p. 175; 1926, p. 2026; 1927, p. 1612; 1928, p. 145) ; and alongside the third in the Paris addresses of the general directory of industry and trade, published in 1931 (Paris-adresses: annuaire général de l'industrie et du commerce: corps constitués, administrations, professions, propriétaires, rentiers, etc... de Paris et du département de la Seine, 1931, p. 746).

Little precise information exists on Pierre Saqué; however, some evidences show his connection with museums in the field of Asian art. Archival documents kept in the René Grousset Library of the Cernuschi Museum shed more light on this mysterious name. He is in fact the successor of the former G.Sugg house and a Chinese antiquities dealer (BRG, CER-EXPO1913-1925). He lent eleven objects to an exhibition entitled "Animals in Chinese Art" organised by the Musée Cernuschi in 1922 (BRG CER-EXPO1913-1925). These pieces were taken back on 4 July of the same year after the exhibition (BRG CER-EXPO1913-1925). According to the list of these objects, dated 22 April of the same year, they were mainly Chinese ceramics (BRG CER-EXPO1913-1925): 

"1 black magpie; 1 purple parrot; 1 aubergine parrot; 1 aubergine ewer in the shape of a monkey; 1 aubergine & turquoise ewer in the shape of a monkey; 1 aubergine sacrificial cup; 1 aubergine sacrificial cup; 1 monkey with its small aubergine dropper; 1 small aubergine chimera; 1 aubergine dropper in the shape of a fish; 1 aubergine, turquoise & yellow cat".

It can be assumed that this dealer was already known in this milieu before 1922, since at that time the Musée Cernuschi asked him for a loan. Besides, some pieces with the label of Pierre Saqué can be found in the Musée Guimet and are part of a bequest of the Countess d'Eudeville, for example a jug with chi dragon decoration (inv. MA 3125) and a teapot (inv. MA 3126) in blanc de Chine. 

In view of the number of Chinese ceramics with the above-mentioned labels, auctioned in a recent Parisian sale entitled "Art d'Asie. L'Univers du collectionneur" in May 2022 (Arts d'Asie. L'Univers du collectionneur, 2022, p. 9-10, 16-19, 21-23, 25, 33, 36-38, 40-41, 51-53, 55, 56, 57), whose purchase invoices date from 1924-1940, we can determine the main period of activity of the Saqué house to be the years 1920-1940 (Arts d'Asie. L'Univers du collectionneur, 2022, p. 19, p. 25).