Your job through your eyes
Can you introduce yourself in a few words? Where did you grow up?
My name is Chloë Collin, I am 28 years old and I live in Paris. I grew up in Brittany in a small town near Rennes. I came to Paris at 17 to start my student life!
What do you do for a living?
I am an auctioneer. I appraise and sell items at auction.
What is your “ personal touch ” as an auctioneer?
I have a hammer custom-made by a cabinetmaker who makes all the auctioneers' hammers. Mine is pink in shagreen, with an Art Deco checkerboard of ivory and ebony.
What do you like most about your job?
The discovery and research of objects, the history of art through a work and the stories of people, families, collections. It is an exciting profession. We travel through the centuries through works of art.
The craziest object you have ever appreciated? Why did it mark you?
It was a Cartier medallion from the early 20th century. It belonged to a family in the south of France who had no idea of its value… It was a beautiful moment at the hammer because its price multiplied by 6. There were bidders from all over the world. It was wonderful!
What is the project/sale you are most proud of?
I specialize in Graffiti. I would love to continue to highlight this movement in contemporary art. I held my first sales specifically dedicated to this movement which were a real success! I would like to organize others and link events with my job. I think we can mix art, fashion, music and events and succeed in making people want to come and see an auction because they are open to everyone and people don't necessarily know it..!
Your Paris through your eyes
What are your 3 favorite Parisian addresses?
Drouot. The temple of auctions!
If you want a more secret address that fills my heart with joy: it's the jewelry gallery at the Museum of Decorative Arts. A sumptuous journey through time told by jewels.
I love going to the Puces de Saint Ouen. For my job, but also to stroll there on Sundays. A step outside of Paris and outside of time!
And for a glass of wine, I would say Maison Souquet, I love going there at the end of the day with my best friend.
What is your favorite vintage address?
Drouot!!! and all the auction houses…
What do you prefer to rummage for?
I love hunting for jewelry... Original jewelry. My latest find was a little brooch in the shape of a frog. A real little golden prince charming!
What is your recent favorite discovery?
Rapper Rejjie Snow had an exhibition in the Marais recently, in the Galerie Sherif Gallery. He is an artist that I really like, I sold his first works at auction and I am happy to see that he is developing his career as a musician but also as a painter. His insta account is @RejjieSnow and his artist account @dom_sesto .
Glasses Through Your Eyes
Glasses that have left their mark on you?
I love Peggy Gugheineim's glasses. Great patron of art of the 20th century. Sublime & original!
What personality would you associate with a pair of glasses?
The artist Foujita. 100 years later… his glasses are still in fashion! Small, round, like a Berlin designer.
© Fonds Foujita/Foujita Foundation/ADAGP 2018
If you had to choose glasses for the rest of your life, which frame would you choose?
I imagine gold glasses, with little butterflies on the arms, slightly pink lenses... and at night, the butterflies would turn into bats...!
For you Second Sight is….
A beautiful family story, of a talented young woman who gave new life to hundreds of glasses that were sleeping in a box… A real magician! But also a brand of the future. Vintage is the future.
What are your current favorite frames in the store?
Generally speaking, I like frames that have character. Pierre Cardin's big pink glasses immediately caught my eye! As well as these sublime green Patrick Kellys decorated with dice and the Jean-Paul Gaultier... I also had a huge crush on the Colani jewelry frames, which I discovered thanks to you, in store!
Find Chloë's world on her Instagram account @lasaintglinglin .
