The follies of the Ecuadorian collector Jorge Eljuri.

Transcription

1 When talking about art collections, the Americans as Gagosian and Serota, the Pinaults or the multimillionaire Chinese serve as the categorical points of reference. We never hear talk about Senor Eljuri. And yet... This rich Ecuadorian's private collection would turn more than one museum green with envy. A few figures suffice to sum up the situation: 8000 paintings by the masters (from El Greco to Picasso without forgetting those such as Lichtenstein), hundreds of antique pieces of furniture, sculptures (some Dalis, Rodins...), antique watches, jewelry... And all of this purchased according to the book at Sotheby's and Christie's. For the first time, he opens the doors... The follies of the Ecuadorian collector Jorge Eljuri. Photos Arne Hodalic/Lightmediation Text Jean-Christophe Brisard Contact - Thierry Tinacci Lightmediation Photo Agency +33 (0) thierry@lightmediation.com

2 : A multi millionaire, Jorge Eljuri and his wife, Rebecca protect themselves from kidnappers and potential burglars with armed guards. One of their nephews was kidnapped by Farc guerillas when 10 years old.

3 : In the office of Jorge Eljuri, in Cuenca in southern Ecuador. Jorge Eljuri collects banknotes, here as this pyramid of Sucre, the former Ecuadorian currency : A multi millionaire, Jorge Eljuri and his wife, Rebecca protect themselves from kidnappers and potential burglars with armed guards. One of their nephews was kidnapped by Farc guerillas when : The villa of Eljuri, in Cuenca, is filled with artwork and precious Persian carpets, antique furnitures, paintings, sculptures... Everything has been bought at auctions in New York and London : One of the many salons of the villa of Jorge Eljuri in Cuenca. In the foreground on the blue table, one piece in ormulu era of Napoleon III with a «surtout de table» (1870).

4 : Inside of the Eljuri's villa in Cuenca : Dining room of the Eljuri's villa in Cuenca. Mrs Rebeca Eljuri monitors the implementation of the table for lunch. In the foreground is a unique piece of silver Thomas Pitts (1765) made in honour of King : From his home in Cuenca in Ecuador, Jorge Eljuri pass orders for the next auction at Sotheby's in New York. The staff at his villa ensures that nobody bothers him : From his home in Cuenca in Ecuador, Jorge Eljuri pass orders for the next auction at Sotheby's in New York. In the foreground on the blue table, one-piece ormulu era of Napoleon III with a «surtout de

5 : Jorge Eljuri is showing one of the eight thousand paintings he bought in auctions. This is a painting by Henri Manguin, french painter from the early twentieth century and one of the principal founder of Fauvism.

6 : Jorge Eljuri is showing one of the eight thousand paintings he bought in auctions. This is a painting by Henri Manguin, french painter from the early twentieth century and one of the principal founder : This is the preferred collection of Jorge Eljuri: old erotic watches. He is one of the greatest collectors in the world. Only the Sultan of Brunei is beyond him. Each of these watches worth, at a : This is the preferred collection of Jorge Eljuri: old erotic watches. He is one of the greatest collectors in the world. Only the Sultan of Brunei is beyond him. Each of these watches worth, at a : Detail of an erotic watch purchased by Jorge Eljuri in auctions at Sotheby's. Such watch is estimated at nearly $

7 : In one of its caves decorated as a Venetian palace, Jorge Eljuri has installed its collection of religious objects from the sixteenth century. There are dozens of crucifixes and other sacred statues : In one of its caves decorated as a Venetian palace, Jorge Eljuri has installed its collection of religious objects from the sixteenth century. There are dozens of crucifixes and other sacred statues : In another room of the basement of the villa of Cuenca Jorge Eljuri, there is another part of his collection of sculptures: Dali and Arman and some Boban. But also paintings by contemporary Russian : Jorge Eljuri poses in front of his portrait done by the Russian painter Nikas. On the left, there is a portrait of his wife Rebeca. Nikas is a young Russian painter which each paintings exceed $

8 : These pre-colombian gold treasures belong to Jorge Eljuri, a very rich businessman in Ecuador, who receives every week treasures plundered by Huaqueros (tomb robbers).

9 : Jorge Eljuri, at 61 years, has not decided to give up control of his group to his son, Jorge Juan. He is still controling more than 200 companies he owns in totality or he is a shareholder. More than : Jorge Eljuri, a very rich businessman in Ecuador, receives every week treasures plundered by Huaqueros (tomb robbers). Eljuri is pictured here with some of his pre-colombian gold collection. In all, he : Jorge Eljuri, a very rich businessman in Ecuador, receives every week treasures plundered by Huaqueros (tomb robbers). Eljuri is pictured here with some of his pre-colombian gold collection. In all, he : These pre-colombian gold treasures belong to Jorge Eljuri, a very rich businessman in Ecuador, who receives every week treasures plundered by Huaqueros (tomb robbers).

10 : View of the "farm" of one of the principal collectors of pre-colombian objects of Ecuador: millionaire Jorge Eljuri. About an hours drive to the west of Cuenca, in the south of Ecuador, the Asian : View of the "farm" of one of the principal collectors of pre-colombian objects of Ecuador: millionaire Jorge Eljuri. About an hours drive to the west of Cuenca, in the south of Ecuador, the Asian : View of the "farm" of one of the principal collectors of pre-colombian objects of Ecuador: millionaire Jorge Eljuri. About an hours drive to the west of Cuenca, in the south of Ecuador, the Asian : View of the "farm" of one of the principal collectors of pre-colombian objects of Ecuador: millionaire Jorge Eljuri. About an hours drive to the west of Cuenca, in the south of Ecuador, the Asian

11 : View of the "farm" of one of the principal collectors of pre-colombian objects of Ecuador: millionaire Jorge Eljuri. About an hours drive to the west of Cuenca, in the south of Ecuador, the Asian style of architecture is striking. Eljuri is from a family of Lebanese origin.

12 : Jorge Eljuri in front of the entrance of one of his residences in Ecuador, near Cuenca : The second home of Jorge Eljuri, an hour's drive from Cuenca, Ecuador, spread over several hundred acres. He installed artificial lagoons in the region lacks water for the pleasure of seeing the fishes : Jorge Eljuri and his wife Rebeca give some cakes to their deers in their private zoo in their second home in Ecuador : Very believer, Jorge Eljuri has built a chapel in his second home near Cuenca in Ecuador. He designed himself this chapel. The Orthodox inspiration came to him after a visit to Moscow. The tallest

13 : Very believer, Jorge Eljuri has built a chapel in his second home near Cuenca in Ecuador. He designed himself this chapel. The Orthodox inspiration came to him after a visit to Moscow. The tallest : Very believer, Jorge Eljuri has built a chapel in his second home near Cuenca in Ecuador. He designed himself this chapel. The Orthodox inspiration came to him after a visit to Moscow. The tallest : Very believer, Jorge Eljuri has built a chapel in his second home near Cuenca in Ecuador. He designed himself this chapel. The Orthodox inspiration came to him after a visit to Moscow. The tallest : Very believer, Jorge Eljuri has built a chapel in his second home near Cuenca in Ecuador. He designed himself this chapel. He is represented in Saint-Georges with the dragon because he has the

14 : From his home in Cuenca in Ecuador, Jorge Eljuri pass orders for the next auction at Sotheby's in New York. In the foreground on the blue table, one-piece ormulu era of Napoleon III with a «surtout de table» and a crystal vase (1870).

15 : Jorge Eljuri has built a private zoo in its second home near Cuenca in Ecuador. He has a dozen of ocelots (shown here with his wife Rebeca), but also deers, puma, monkeys, macaws, caimans : Rebeca and Jorge Eljuri posed in the entrance to their second home near Cuenca in Ecuador. Each of the paintings behind them are from the greatest painter of Ecuador, Guayasamin, and are : Jorge Eljuri cramed in his office in Cuenca, Ecuador, dozens of items he buys in the auctions. Behind him, a painting of Greco : Jorge Eljuri posed in the entrance to their second home near Cuenca in Ecuador. Each of the paintings behind him are from the greatest painter of Ecuador, Guayasamin, and are estimated at

16 : Rebeca Eljuri in the entrance of his second home in Ecuador. All objects and furniture were purchased at american auctions : Jorge and his wife Rebeca Eljuri pose in front of their second home in Ecuador. The neo-east style of this house was wanted by Jorge Eljuri who is of Lebanese origin : In Miami, Jorge Eljuri has bought an apartment of 500 m2. But it is too small and can only accommodate a small part of his collection of artifacts. Here, his son Juan Jorge poses in front of a : In Miami, Jorge Eljuri has bought an apartment of 500 m2. But it is too small and can only accommodate a small part of his collection of artifacts. Here, his son Juan Jorge poses in front of a

17 : Jorge Eljuri, a rich businessman in Ecuador, has two hundred companies. Here he shows off one of his rings; a black diamond which belonged to Frank Sinatra.

18 : Drawings by Picasso: "Head Man." Collection Jorge Eljuri : Icon Russian silver nineteenth century purchased by Jorge Eljuri in an auction room in New York : Icon Russian silver nineteenth century purchased by Jorge Eljuri in an auction room in New York : Icon Russian silver nineteenth century purchased by Jorge Eljuri in an auction room in New York.

19 : Drawings by Picasso. Private collection Jorge Eljuri : Table ornament in silver and ivory, with gold. Germany nineteenth century. Value: more than euros. Collection Eljuri : Detail of an erotic watch. Private collection Jorge Eljuri. Value: more than euros : English chalice of the nineteenth century. It belonged to Queen Victoria. Collection Jorge Eljuri.

20 : Very believer, Jorge Eljuri has built a chapel in his second home near Cuenca in Ecuador. He designed himself this chapel. The Orthodox inspiration came to him after a visit to Moscow. The tallest tower is 22 m. Here one see him talk with the architect of the chapel.

21 : Jorge Eljuri, a very rich businessman in Ecuador, receives every week treasures plundered by Huaqueros (tomb robbers). Eljuri is pictured here with some of his pre-colombian gold collection. In all, he has more than 300 kilos.

22 : Very believer, Jorge Eljuri has built a chapel in his second home near Cuenca in Ecuador. He designed himself this chapel. The Orthodox inspiration came to him after a visit to Moscow. The tallest tower is 22 m. Each week, he is checking himself the work of the workers.