Sunday April 21, 2024, Palluau-sur-Indre. A few cars are already parked along the small road that leads to the castle. In one hour the auction of furniture and works of art from the estate will begin. Inside the property, Jean-Roger Morvan is a little tense before selling part of his assets.
At his side, Denis Herbette and Rachid Sebaï, auctioneers from the Herbette house specializing in antique furniture, are preparing to reach the main outbuilding, just at the entrance to the castle, where the auction will take place.
100,000 to 150,000 € of furniture and objects sold
At 2:30 p.m., everyone is in place. The auctioneers and their four assistants, in charge of the Drouot and Interéchés platforms, but also of the minutes of the sale, buyers’ slips and telephone bidding, face a great audience of around 80 people, coming from the surrounding area. .
The sale begins with a lot of carts and cabs. Denis Herbette is at the helm and warms up the room. “You don’t want this cart to put in your living room?” » he jokes, hammer in hand, just to lighten the mood.
“€100 the starting price, it’s a gift, he continues. And this iron hearse for €600, everyone wants that at home, we have to think about it for our old age. » The room relaxes, hands are raised, the bids rise and the sales begin.
Around 80 people physically participated in the auction of furniture and works of art from Palluau Castle.
© Photo NR, P.-YR
The 208 lots put on sale this Sunday were exhibited all weekend in the castle which received visits from 200 to 300 people. “We are planning three hours of sales, indicates Denis Herbette, we make 65 batches per hour. Two thirds of them will leave via Internet platforms or by telephone. As for the overall estimate, it oscillates between €100,000 and €150,000. »
A beautiful animation
On each lot sold, the buyer must add 25% of the price which will be used for Maison Herbette’s fees (18%) and taxes payable to the State (7%). Denis Herbette, professional, thought of this sale with Jean-Roger Morvan, a customer for more than twenty years. “I partly sold him the furniture which adorns the rooms of his property, underlines the auctioneer. We preferred to sell on site rather than in an auction room. Today, they are almost empty. And then, leaving things in context is more beautiful. Here, there is a beautiful outbuilding for this event. »
Because in Palluau, this auction is a small event. “It makes a nice animation”, assures this lady, who came from abroad with her husband and son. In the room, some traveled up to 90 km to attend the sale. Others simply came as curious people.
The auction began with a collection of cabs and carts displayed in the entrance to Palluau Castle.
© Photo NR, P.-YR
A fine connoisseur, Denis Herbette, fell in love with a few pieces of the château. “I have a weakness for the half-armor that looks like it came out of the well in the castle courtyard. But my favorite is a very pretty Louis XIII piece, a blackened wooden cabinet originally from Flanders. »
At the back of the room, Jean-Roger Morvan has sat discreetly and is observing the progress of this auction, almost unique in Palluau-sur-Indre. In a few months, his castle should be sold. But the owner who restored this Middle Ages building repeats it over and over again: “There is no question of selling it to someone who will destroy what I have started. »
Mr. Morvan gives himself the right to review his successor. The sale could therefore take a few more months.
