Recollections by Ben Brown

Manfredi was a visionary. From our early days together, when he was chairman at Sotheby’s Italy, he always thought out of the box. His interests spanned I think 3000 years of creation and his eclectic collection demonstrates that. Going to stay with him in Italy or seeing him in London always entailed exciting stories about buying stuff either in obscure markets around Europe or in major auction houses or indeed from esteemed galleries like my own. Over the years, he came into the gallery many times and got excited about various things, usually to subsequently try and sell the art to a client or friend of his so he could then go and spend his money on his own purchases. I think the maxim “to make money in order to buy art” was almost invented for Manfredi. He always had a strong opinion about everything and did not care if nobody else agreed with him!

I saw Manfredi for lunch one day and realised he was the ideal person to design and curate my forthcoming Lalanne exhibition. In order to do this properly, I realised I needed to get Claude Lalanne on my side which I thought would not be complicated if I brought Manfredi to Claude’s house outside of Paris. We headed off together to Paris having prepped Claude about Manfredi and what he was like. Manfredi goes into fifth gear charming, aristocratic, erudite, Italian speaking accented French. Claude fell for it hook line and sinker. She proceeded to give him a very beautiful necklace of her own creation. In circa 50 visits to her house, and numerous exhibitions, I don’t think she had ever given me a present like that!

Of the three Lalanne exhibitions which he created and curated for me, they kept getting better. The final one I am so happy he saw come to fruition and was so sad when he passed away in the middle of the exhibition. He was a creative genius and an extraordinarily eclectic collector which is fully demonstrated by the contents of this sale. I am sure if he was still with us, there would be another 100 objects to add to this sale. We will all miss him.

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Auction Details

Wednesday 24 April, 10.30am BST
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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VIEWING:

• Viewing in London (highlights):
  • Tuesday 19 March: 10am-4pm
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  • Wednesday 24 April: 10am-4pm
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