For Marion Lambert, collecting had nothing to do with investing. Money is the opposite of art, she said in an interview: "Art is the expression of ideas, lofty ideals, political understanding and deeply felt emotions." The Swiss baroness, married to the Belgian banker Philippe Lambert, collected as a passionate life's work. In the eighties she was particularly interested in photography. But she also had a keen eye for contemporary art and design and was looking for young talents whose work she promoted and pursued, as did Andreas Gursky, Thomas Struth or Cindy Sherman, Christopher Wool, Richard Prince or Kara Walker at an early age. But her passion became a worthwhile investment: When her outstanding photography collection was auctioned in New York in 2004,she grossed $ 9.2 million. In 2015, part of the collection of art, design and furniture was auctioned in London for £ 15 million. Marion Lambert tragically died in a bus accident just a year later.

On May 25th and 26th, Christie's in Paris is bringing the remaining part of contemporary art, photography, furniture and design under the hammer under the title “Black Sheep”, as well as haute couture and jewelry. The 319 lots in the live auction include unusual pieces: such as the extravagant brooch by jewelry designer JAR with a black sheep's head, which is lured by a well-organized tangle of fine pearls and which gives the auction its title (estimate 80,000 / 120,000 euros). The Lamberts furnished their houses in Geneva and Italy with the interior designer Jacques Grange, who also designed the interiors of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. That promises fabulous curiosities, such as the desk with armchair by Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti made of piebald cowhide (20,000 / 30,000) or rarities such as the delicate,Japanese table lamp by Dagobert Peche (50,000 / 70,000). A desk by Jean Prouvé from the Présidence series (200,000 / 300,000) is one of the outstanding pieces with a pair of armchairs by Pierre Chareau (120,000 / 180,000). In addition to photos by Francesca Woodman (from 20,000 to 50,000 euros) or a self-portrait by Claude Cahun from 1927 (40,000 / 60,000), in which she depicts herself as a circus artist - "I am in training, don't kiss me" - the collection offers also a series of seven prints from the “Hairstyles Series”, with which the Nigerian photographer JD 'Okhai Ojeikere captured the impressive headdress hairstyles of the women of his country (15,000 / 20,000). Topless is a painting, between graffiti and drawing, by Richard Prince from 1998, “My wife” (350,000 / 550,000).An online auction with a further 135 lots runs until May 27th. A total of four to six million euros are expected.