This Saturday, September 12, 2026, two auctions will celebrate the artistic identity of the French Riviera. The Millon Riviera auction house will organize two auctions dedicated to watercolors and ceramic sculptures.
Two auctions of works from the French Riviera will take place this Saturday, September 12. The Millon Riviera auction house will present in its offices, 51 rue Beaumont in Nice, a complete immersion into the regional artistic school.
The first, “Regionalism, painters of the South and the French Riviera”, will begin at 11 a.m., followed by the second at 2:30 p.m., titled “Arts of Fire: ceramics and collectible glassware.” Each can be followed online on the internet, but specialists recommend attending in person to benefit from the experts’ advice while admiring the works.
“What we love is to showcase the territory, to try to bring to life or revive places of memory”, explains Julia Dragone, principal clerk of the office, eager to provide expertise to local enthusiasts and collectors. This auction day will offer everyone the opportunity to bring local heritage to life and acquire a piece of regional history at accessible prices.
A deeply Nice pictorial heritage
The first session will be entirely dedicated to works from the region. As the headliner, Alexis Mossa (1844-1926), known for painting Riviera landscapes. The principal clerk enthusiastically recalls that he “there is not a house in Nice where there is not a Mossa.” Whether views of the Vallon des Fleurs or the Boréon, each numbered work bears witness to meticulous and documented work.
Over a thousand watercolor paintings were sketched by the artist Mossa, allowing every Nice resident to see a piece of their own memory in them. Estimated on average around 200 euros, these paintings appeal to locals wishing to compare landscapes of yesteryear. Emmanuel and Charles Costa, meanwhile, can be found painting views of Villefranche or the port of Nice.
Added to these are more contemporary works such as a colorful painting of Garibaldi Square of yesteryear by Claude Schurr, estimated between 1,500 and 2,000 euros. These are followed by works painted in oil by Yvon Grac of a colorful view of the Promenade des Anglais, as well as the mythical Casino of the Jetée-Promenade painted by Emmanuel Bellini.
Riviera ceramic heritage highlighted
Mediterranean craftsmanship will take on quite another form in the afternoon as we delve into the arts of fire. Among the exceptional pieces, two enameled sculptures by Fernand Léger, created in Biot at the Brice workshops, will be offered for sale.
The first is the original work of the Little Rooster created in 1952, estimated at 10,000 to 15,000 euros. The Flower That Walks, designed the same year, is estimated between 18,000 and 22,000 euros. The auctioneer, Cécile Dupuis, emphasizes the criterion of “exceptional rarity” of these works, justified by “direct provenance from the workshop.”
Other major Riviera artists are in the spotlight, starting with those from Vallauris and Golfe-Juan. Faience enameled with black luster by Jean Marais, emblematic pieces made by Roger Capron and Robert Picault, as well as metallic and iridescent works by Clément and Jérôme Massier.
Beyond these technical feats, Cécile Dupuis above all wants to recall the human dimension of an auction. It is not just an exchange of goods, but one of enthusiasts or collectors, sharing a truly interactive moment around art.
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