Piasa

About Piasa

Piasa is a distinguished Parisian auction house that has carved out a unique niche in the French and international art market since its founding in October 1996. Originally established in the historic Richelieu-Drouot auction district, Piasa has evolved into one of the most distinctive and design-forward auction houses in France, with a particular emphasis on twentieth and twenty-first century creativity spanning modern and contemporary art, post-war design, photography, jewellery, and decorative arts.

History

The house was created in the storied rue Drouot neighbourhood, the traditional heart of the Parisian auction world. In 2001, the luxury conglomerate Artemis acquired a stake in Piasa, providing capital and connections that helped the house expand its offerings and raise its profile. By 2011, a group of private investors within Financière Piasa had acquired full ownership, setting the stage for a new era of independence and creative ambition.

A pivotal moment came in 2014 when Piasa relocated from Drouot to a former eighteenth-century mansion on the prestigious rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, once home to Pierre Cardin's first boutique, providing an intimate and architecturally stunning setting that matched Piasa's identity as a curated, design-conscious auction house. The year before, in 2013, Piasa had opened Piasa Rive Gauche, a dedicated space on the Left Bank specializing in post-war design sales.

Curatorial approach and specialist departments

What distinguishes Piasa from other French auction houses is its curatorial approach. Rather than simply cataloguing and selling objects, Piasa collaborates with leading interior designers and curators to create immersive exhibition environments for its sales, each conceived as a carefully staged presentation blurring the line between auction preview and gallery show. This has attracted a sophisticated collector base that values aesthetic vision alongside provenance and quality.

Piasa's core speciality is design, with particular strength in twentieth-century furniture, lighting, and decorative objects by masters such as Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, Finn Juhl, and George Nakashima. Beyond design, the house maintains active departments in modern and contemporary art, medieval and Renaissance works, Old Master paintings and drawings, books and manuscripts, Asian arts, jewellery, and fine furniture and objets d'art. The photography department is another area of distinction, with notable sales including the historic auction of Dora Maar's photographic collection in 1999.

Sales results

Piasa's design sales regularly achieve strong results: in 2023 a Finn Juhl Chieftain chair sold for 312,000 euros, a Jean Prouvé sideboard for 208,000 euros, and a George Nakashima table for 188,500 euros. The house reported robust results for 2024, with total auction sales nearing 65 million euros including buyer's premiums, building on over 60 million euros achieved in 2023.

Buying and selling with Piasa

For buyers, Piasa offers live auctions in its Faubourg Saint-Honoré saleroom as well as online bidding. The buyer's premium structure varies by sale but generally falls in the range of 20 to 28 percent. All lots are accompanied by detailed catalogue descriptions and high-quality photography, and condition reports are available on request.

For sellers looking to consign, Piasa offers free valuations either in person at its Paris premises or through online submission, with expert assessment and guidance on the best sale format and timing. Consignments are particularly welcome in design, contemporary art, photography, and decorative arts, where Piasa's collector following is strongest. Seller commissions are negotiated individually.

Piasa also regularly collaborates with foundations, museums, and private estates on dedicated single-owner sales, a format that lets the house tell a compelling narrative around a collection and generate heightened interest; these thematic sales have become signature events on the Parisian auction calendar. Its catalogues feature detailed essays, artist biographies, and provenance research considered essential reference material by collectors of twentieth-century design.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Piasa sell?

Twentieth and twenty-first century art, design, photography, jewellery, and decorative arts, plus departments covering Old Masters and Asian art.

What is Piasa's fee structure?

Buyer's premiums of approximately 20 to 28 percent, with seller commissions negotiated per consignment.

How can sellers consign items to Piasa?

Sellers can arrange free valuations online or in person at Piasa's Paris premises.