Page 34 - Bonhams Cornette Saint Cyr, Property from the estate of Jean-Pierre Rousset (1936-2021)

The Rousset family has always had strong ties with the Musée
Guimet. Mike continues the family tradition with great friendship and
integrity. As president of the friends of the museum, I am happy to
count him among our members. In 1928, five pieces from Siam - two
busts and three Buddha heads from the Ayutthaya period - entered
the collections of the Place d'Iéna institution. As major donors
throughout the 20th century, the Roussets have a special place in the
history of French national collections.

As Jeannine Auboyer, curator in charge of the Chinese Art
department at the time, wrote: "Inaugurated on 26 June (1978) by
the Director of the Museums of France, Mr Hubert Landais, Mr
Robert Rousset's donation is a well-known event in the history of
the Musée Guimet's collections. (...) Bringing together pieces of this
quality requires almost half a century of "chasse à l’objet", choosing
them with discernment so that, when brought together, they form a
homogeneous whole despite their disparity of origin or period, which
is what Mr Rousset has achieved. This is what he has offered to the
national museums. (...) Like any true collection of art objects, this one
reflects the taste of the person who assembled it. This reflection, the
expression of this taste, will be perpetuated for a long time to come
and communicated to all those who come to admire the grace and
Art gallery of the Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes beauty of these carefully and wonderfully selected works”.2
39, avenue de Friedland
Paris 8th arrondissement Remarkable in its coherence and quality, this donation of funerary
statuettes was the subject of a book published in 1997 by the Musée
Guimet /Réunion des Musées Nationaux and in collaboration with
Jean-Pierre, Compagnons d'Éternité. A nod to Jean-Pierre Rousset.

The historic gallery at 39, avenue de Friedland was a reference for all
lovers and collectors of Asian art in the world for almost a century.
For Jean-Pierre, it was his whole life. He was one of those experts
who loved to share and transmit knowledge. He continued, even in
retirement, to come to the office every day. He missed the market
and the objects. It is not that he lacked them at home, his apartment
was full of treasures. After uncle Robert’s death, his private collection
was divided equally between Jean-Pierre and his sister. Anne-Marie's
part was sold with great success after her death in 2019 (1), Jean-
Pierre's is being sold today.

Mike Winter Rousset (left), Jean-Pierre Rousset (middle),
Hervé du Peuty (right)

(1) Arts d’Asie, Succession de Madame Anne-Marie Rousset, (2) Jean-Paul Desroches, La Donation Robert Rousset au Musée
Cornette de Saint Cyr, 15 October 2020, Paris. Guimet, La Revue du Louvre et des
Musées de France, 1 - 1979- XXIXème année, p. 60.

32 | BONHAMS