Along the way he assembled a large personal collection of French furniture.

And the market for good French furniture is very slow at the moment.

French furniture from the 18th century is the most beautiful furniture anyone has ever made.

French furniture carefully mixed with modern pieces was one of her signatures.

Indeed, rare works of French furniture, no matter how recently they have been on the market, are a strong commodity these days.

Later she also developed an interest in French provincial furniture.

"But to buy 19th-century copies of 18th-century French furniture is worth nothing - there's no originality."

Christie's has two fall sales with important French furniture.

"My restorer said the quality of the construction is equal to that on the best 18th-century French furniture."

In addition to paintings, he has been buying porcelains and French furniture.