The second half of 2025 sees Il Ponte Auction House consolidating its position on the international art sales scene with an articulated and diversified calendar embracing philately, painting, sculpture, oriental art and 20th-century design. The appointments, scheduled between Milan and Paris, offer a journey through pieces of great historical, collector and technical value, underscoring the auction house’s role as a point of reference for operators and enthusiasts.
International philately takes center stage with the Dec. 16 and 17 rounds in Milan and Paris. The previously established partnership with Millon Auction Group makes it possible to offer integrated sales between the two venues, expanding the offer and enhancing works of excellence in multiple areas. The preliminary exhibition, Dec. 12-14 at Palazzo Crivelli, offers collectors a selection of pieces of extraordinary rarity. Among them, the envelope from Pontremoli to Genoa (lot 331, €80,000 - 120,000) represents an exemplary case of Italian ducats philately. The franking, with three specimens of the 10c black, two loose specimens and two very rare strips of four of the 40c azure, complemented by a pair of the 25c bruno lilla for a total of 4.80 lire, is universally recognized as the most spectacular of the Duchy of Parma. The envelope is documented full-page in the Sassone catalog and also cited by Bolaffi 1983/84, with historical signatures in Italian philately, representing an indispensable reference point for postal and collecting history of the period.
Also among the Milan lots, the mixed franking of the letter from Verona to Milan (lot 202, € 30,000 - 50,000) is another example of a combination impossible to replicate today. Three specimens of the 30 centesimi bruno from the first issue are flanked by two specimens of the 10 soldi bruno from the second issue, a combination that was only possible in November and December 1858, when the two issues coexisted. The letter is listed as one of the greatest rarities of Lombardy-Veneto in the Sassone catalog, testifying to the historical and scientific attention devoted to this period of Italian philately. The sale continues in Paris with an exceptionally important piece, the 1859 Sicilian stamp (lot 394, €250,000 - 500,000), known for the color error that makes it unique: the half grain printed in the blue shade of the 2 grana, instead of the traditional orange. Preserved on a perfect fragment, it is one of only two known examples from the same letter, and is often cited among world rarities on a par with the famousyellow treskilling of Sweden or the 9 kr. of Baden. The lot testifies to the technical precision, historical importance and absolute rarity that characterize outstanding philately.
On Dec. 15, also at Palazzo Crivelli, the 19th- and 20th-century Paintings and Sculptures auction is scheduled, offering a journey through more than a century of painting, with a focus on the female figure. Giuseppe Molteni ’s Portrait of a Woman at the Window Watering Flower Vases (lot 98, €20,000 - 25,000) offers an example of romantic Milanese realism, where attention to detail and technical precision shape the features and expressiveness of the young woman. Federico Zandomeneghi ’s Dream (lot 99, €25,000 - 30,000), on the other hand, explores the intimacy of the female figure through vibrant, shaded color, dissolving contours in an almost dreamlike rendering of wakefulness and sleep. Among the portraits, Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita ’s portrait of Magdalene (lot 101, €18,000 - 20,000) stands out for its economy of sign and ability to evoke psychological depth through essential, minimal lines. The selection is completed by Carlo Bossoli ’s Napoleon and his army in front of the burning of Moscow (lot 100, € 45,000 - 50,000), which, although chronologically belonging to the early 19th century, differs in its narrative approach and scenic construction, evidence of the self-taught painter’s ability to render views of great theatrical impact, appreciated by aristocratic audiences and European institutions.
On Dec. 16, the Oriental, Asian and Islamic Art auction introduces to Italy for the first time a section devoted to Islamic art, curated by French expert Anne-Sophie Joncoux Pilorget. Among the main lots, the Ruyi scepter in celadon jade from the Qianlong period (lot 297, €100,000 - 150,000) represents an example of the highest quality craftsmanship, with bas-relief decoration of the Eight Buddhist Emblems, symbols of prosperity and spiritual fulfillment. The 18th-century black lacquered and gilded wooden cabinet (lot 294, € 8,000 - 10,000), with engraved and gilded bronze friezes and a lacquered interior with flowers and animals, testifies to the mastery of Chinese imperial workshops. Prominent among the sculptures is the large pink coral carving (lot 296, €7,000 - 8,000), which, through three-dimensional modeling, transforms living matter into a dynamic and artistic narrative. The vases, including a blue and copper red Jiaqing porcelain specimen (lot 289, €2,000 - 3,000), and the sejjâda tapestry from the island of Chio (lot 363, €2,000 - 3.000), document the variety of materials, techniques and cultural contexts, extending the auction house’s offerings to the Islamic market, which until now has been underrepresented in Italy.
Decorative Arts of the 20th Century and Design, scheduled for Dec. 18 and 19 at Via Giacomo Medici del Vascello, includes 426 lots divided into three rounds. The selection reflects the synergy between decorative arts, architecture and interior design in the 20th century, offering works by Fontana, Borsani, Gio Ponti, Scarpa, Sottsass, Bellini and others. Fontana, in the 1930s and 1940s, collaborated with architects and designers, creating plaster sculptures, light panels, and decorative furnishings integrated into domestic environments. Among the major lots, the Manly Portrait in Plaster (lot 59, € 18,000 - 20,000), the Indirect Light Chandelier (lot 60, € 25,000 - 35,000) and the console-shelf decorated by Fontana and Borsani (lot 61, € 80,000 - 100,000) offer concrete examples of the collaboration between decorative arts and sculpture. The catalog also includes pieces by Murano glassmakers, with signatures such as Paolo Venini, Carlo Scarpa and Ercole Barovier, rationalist furniture from the 1930s by Figini and Pollini, and a selection of lamps and furniture signed by Chiesa, Scarpa, Ingrand, Sarfatti, Lelii and Ponti. The variety of lots testifies to the breadth of the Italian design and decoration market, with authenticated pieces from archives and historical and material analyses.
In conclusion, Il Ponte Auction House’s calendar for the second half of 2025 confirms its focus on philatelic rarities, figurative painting and sculpture, oriental art and design, offering Italian and international collectors the opportunity to access lots of historical, technical and artistic significance. The synergy with Millon Auction Group expands the international reach of the sales, positioning Milan and Paris as central hubs for the fine art market.
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| The Bridge leads art and philately auctions between Milan and Paris in late 2025 |
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