Lhomme

Biography

Michel Lhomme is an expert bookseller in Liège, Belgium. Since 1991, he is organizing public auction sales mainly dedicated to antique and contemporary books, engraving, drawing and painting. Michel Lhomme is a member of the "Chambre Belgo-Luxembourgeoise des Salles de Ventes, Commissaires-Priseurs, Courtiers et Experts mobiliers". He is also a member of the "International League of Antiquarian Booksellers". Highlights of Michel Lhomme bookshop were greeted many times by the newspapers. See below two photomontages of articles depicting the results of our eclectic sales.

In 1991, Michel Lhomme proceeds to selling a 30,000 books stock with the closing of the famous Gothier bookshop in Liège. En 1993, a Flemish aristocratic family, willing to remain anonymous, appoints Christie's to organizing an auction for a major collection of books dating from the 16th to 18th centuries, still with authentic binding in perfect condition. However the owners want the auction to take place in Brussels, not in London. They eventually entrust Michel Lhomme with the task of organizing the "Collection of Count ***" sale at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. The whole sale result tops 23 million BEF, including 2.4 million BEF (plus charges) for a Blaeu book purchased by a New-York collector.

In 1995, a stunning collection of 700 terracotta pipes is proposed for an auction. The same year, engravings by Ensor are sold at prices never seen in London or New-York: 370,000 BEF for "L'entrée du Christ à Bruxelles" and 220,000 BEF for "La Cathédrale", plus charges. In December 1995, a sale dedicated to surrealism and Belgian painter René Magritte, letters, pictures, poster bills and books from Magritte's private collection are being acquired by collectors from France, Germany, Denmark and even Brazil. Gouaches entitled "Le séducteur" and "L'état de veille" respectively go for 1,850,000 and 1,950,000 BEF.

In April 1996, a letter from Freud to a medical student in Liège goes for 200,000 BEF whereas in October 1998, an old costume from a Sioux warrior, dating from the 19th century, is grimly coveted by six distinct foreign buyers on the phone. The costume was estimated 120,000 BEF but an English-speaking Canadian, present in the auction room, buys it 10,675,000 BEF (charges included). This beats all records of the Lhomme bookshop! Then the jacket of an Lakota Indian child (estimated 15,000 BEF) goes for 2,160,000 BEF (charges included).

In June 2002, a world record is set for an Arthur Rimbaud lot: over 17,000 EUR (including expenses) are paid for the legendary original edition, in perfect condition, of "Une saison en enfer" published by Rimbaud when he was 19 years old. In November the same year, Michel Lhomme inaugurates the new auction room, next to the bookshop.