Objects of desire

Imagine stumbling into a house in which every object — candelabra, fruit bowl, chair, tapestry, armoire — traces its origin from centuries back, confident in its lustrous veneer of history and freighted with the stories of its long line of individual owners. Gazed at, desired, taken care of, saved from war, prized over others, these objects now seduce you, a citizen of the present, to add your story to them.

Such is what you will encounter at Casa de Memoria, an auction house specializing in European fine art and antiquities that just concluded its first auction a few weeks ago in its temporary home in Bel-Air, Makati City. Presenting 235 lots composed of a wide variety of furniture, objets d’ art, religious and art pieces and accompanied by a sumptuous 300-page catalog, the auction primarily catered to lovers and collectors of the antique, whose previous recourse to own these kinds of objects was to fly to Europe. With the entrance of Casa de Memoria, that need has been eliminated.

No doubt that the auction house rides on a booming market, as evidenced by the success of Leon Gallery and Salcedo Auctions. “The difference between us and the other auction houses is that we are offering European antiquities that have so much history, have so much background to the piece,” says Tiffany Mathay, manager of Casa de Memoria. “We don’t see them as competitors because, technically, we’re not carrying the same type of things. We are carrying antiquities and art of a totally different background. This is what will make people engaged and excited about our pieces because that’s what we’ll bring to the market.”

The auction house's initial offering came from “a private collection of one family,” says Angelique Marie “Angie” Miranda, the director of the auction house. “They were able to accumulate the objects through the years. Some of them are heirlooms, passed down from generation to generation.”

The star piece of the auction was the Italian malachite-mounted console table from the 19th century, which embodies the Baroque and Rococo aesthetic. The semi-precious stone — adorned as tabletop, frieze and feet — is set on an exquisitely articulated form whose giltwood legs are carved in the manner of the cabriole style, bearing scroll and acanthus leaf motifs.

For the guest curator Ascanio Columbara, who flew to Manila from Padua, Italy specifically for the auction, another important piece would be the painting of Giovanni “Crivellino” Crivelli, from the late 1600s, featuring a group of domesticated birds. “As you can see, the movement of the hand is really good,” Ascanio told me while gesturing at the feathers of the peacock, tracing the brushstrokes. “Also, the artist is known for this kind of subject matter.”

For the next auction slated for July, Casa de Memoria will feature additional pieces that belong to the same family collection. Soon after, the auction house will be open to consignments, especially once they have moved to their permanent home, a “palatial” ancestral house along Roxas Boulevard. Inviting those who want to experience a version of the good life steeped in history and story, this casa’s door beckons.

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Casa de Memoria is located at 156 Jupiter cor. Comet St. Brgy. Bel-Air, Makati City. For details, visit CasadeMemoria.com.