The House

History | Team | Sales locations

OUR AUCTIONEERS

MASTER JULIEN LABARBE & MASTER MARC LABARBE

MASTER MARGAUX VOILLAT

MASTER CLÉMENT TREZIERES

TEAM

Sandrine FAVAREL

Executive Assistant

Marie-Agnès DENIS

Clerk

Valérie VIEUX

Accountant

OUR EXPERTISE

The Labarbe auction house, located in Toulouse, assists individuals, collectors and professionals in the appraisal, valuation and auctioning of their valuable and collectible items.

Our team of auctioneers operates in many areas: Antique and modern jewelry, fine jewelry, watches and clocks, antique and contemporary paintings, sculptures, furniture and design, militaria, Asian art, collectibles, etc… 

Thanks to our experience in the art market and the collaboration of specialized experts, we pay particular attention to the identification, authenticity and valuation of each object.

Our ambition is to offer everyone professional, personalized and transparent support, from the first estimate to the auction.

GEMMOLOGY

The expertise of jewelry and precious stones is one of the areas of competence of the Labarbe auction house.

Our team relies on skills in gemology, discipline devoted to the identification and study of precious and semi-precious stones, particularly diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

To ensure a rigorous analysis, we also work, when necessary, with specialized gemological laboratories, capable of conducting in-depth examinations and delivering analytical reports.

This approach allows us to support individuals and collectors in the appraisal, valuation and auctioning of their jewelry and precious stones, drawing on technical skills and knowledge of the French and international market.

OUR EXCEPTIONAL SALES

The Labarbe auction house has distinguished itself in the art market through exceptional discoveries and remarkable sales, recognized both in France and internationally.

From the discovery of a Caravaggio painting, estimated at between 100 and 150 million euros, to the historic sale of a Chinese imperial scroll for more than 22 million euros, our auction house demonstrates a recognized expertise in the identification, appraisal and valuation of exceptional works of art.

JUDITH AND HOLOFERNES — ATTRIBUTED TO CARAVAGGIO

Discovered by auctioneer Marc Labarbe in 2014 in a Toulouse attic, this Caravaggio painting garnered international attention before being sold privately in 2019. This previously unknown work was notably featured in a report by LCP, which you can find at this link: https://lcp.fr/programmes/l-affaire-caravage-289607

Estimated value: 100 to 150 million euros

READ THE PRESS ARTICLE →

CHINESE IMPERIAL SCROLL — QIANLONG PERIOD

In 2011, the Labarbe auction house achieved a historic sale with the auction of an exceptional Chinese imperial scroll from the Qianlong period, establishing one of the most remarkable results in the French auction market.

Final price: €22,057,760 including fees

READ THE PRESS ARTICLE →

ANTON MITOV — GYPSY SELLING SIDES AT THE SOFIA MARKET

In 2024, the Labarbe auction house achieved a remarkable sale with this oil on canvas by the Bulgarian painter Anton Mitov, dated 1904. Depicting a market scene in Sofia, this work, estimated between €30,000 and €50,000, aroused great interest among collectors.

Final price: €203,200 including fees

READ THE PRESS ARTICLE →

LÊ QUOC LOC — POLYCHROME LACQUERED SCREEN

In 2020, the Labarbe auction house held an exceptional sale with a six-panel polychrome lacquer screen by the Vietnamese artist Lê Quoc Loc, signed and dated 1941. This work, estimated between €30,000 and €50,000, achieved a remarkable result, testifying to the interest of collectors in Asian art.

Final price: €266,500 including fees

READ THE PRESS ARTICLE →

EXPERTIBUS — EXPERTISE COMING TO YOU

With the Expertibus, The Labarbe auction house comes directly to meet individuals to offer them a free, confidential and non-binding appraisal and valuation service.

Our vehicle travels through the towns and villages of Occitanie and neighboring regions to make the appraisal of art and valuable objects accessible to as many people as possible.

Jewelry, diamonds and precious stones, watches, paintings, sculptures, antique and designer furniture, coins, ceramics and glassware, militaria and collectibles Visitors can present their goods to our auctioneers to find out their value and benefit from professional advice.

Objects of artistic, historical interest or of particular value on the auction market may also, with the agreement of their owner, be selected and entrusted to our auction house to be offered at our next auctions. An opportunity to showcase certain pieces to a clientele of collectors and enthusiasts, both in France and internationally.

No appointment necessary and no obligation to sell, Expertibus allows everyone to discover the value of their objects, whether they are inherited, collected or simply kept for several years.

This local service is part of the Labarbe auction house's commitment to democratizing access to expertise and introducing the auction market to an ever-wider audience.

DISCOVER THE UPCOMING DATES

OUR CULTURAL AND CHARITABLE COMMITMENTS

Beyond its auction business, the Labarbe Auction House is committed to the transmission of knowledge, the promotion of artistic heritage and support for solidarity initiatives.

Our auction house participates in charity auctions, by putting its expertise at the service of associations and projects of general interest.

Committed to sharing our passion for art, we also participate in conferences, meetings and cultural events, particularly around art history, artistic discoveries and heritage.

These commitments reflect our desire to make the world of art and auctions more accessible, while contributing to the cultural and community life of our region.

Charity sale — December 4, 2025

A sale of 110 collectible posters, organised by the Rotary Club Toulouse Lauragais and the Galerie Fabrice Galvani to benefit children with autism spectrum disorder, was hosted by Maître Marc Labarbe at the CCI of Toulouse.

READ THE PRESS ARTICLE 

CHARITY SALE — A JERSEY FOR LIFE

For several years, the Labarbe auction house has participated in charity auctions to benefit the association A Jersey for Life, which supports sick children by allowing them, in particular, to meet top athletes.

Auctioneer Marc Labarbe has conducted several charity sales of jerseys and collectible sports memorabilia. Among the notable events was the 2018 sale, during which a replica of the 1998 World Cup trophy reached 100 000 €, helping to support the charities Un Maillot pour la Vie and ELA.

READ THE PRESS ARTICLE

Conference on Caravaggio — May 29, 2019

Master Marc Labarbe spoke at the University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès as part of the "Words of Art" series, to discuss the discovery of Judith and Holofernes, the research surrounding its attribution and the implications of its sale.

READ THE PRESS ARTICLE 

CHARITY SALE OF FINE WINES — 2022

On February 4, 2022, Maître Marc Labarbe conducted an auction of fine wines to benefit the Toulouse Cancer Health Foundation, with the support of Michelin-starred chef Michel Sarran. This fundraising effort raised nearly €31,000 to support cancer research conducted in Toulouse.

EXCEPTIONAL SALE OF THE AIRBUS A380 — 2022

From October 13 to 15, 2022, the Labarbe auction house participated, alongside Airbus, in an exceptional auction of nearly 500 pieces of the iconic Airbus A380. Led in particular by Maître Marc Labarbe, this major international event helped support the humanitarian actions of the Airbus Foundation, as well as the association AIRitage, committed to the preservation of aeronautical heritage.

PLACES OF SALE

Hôtel Saint-Aubin

3 Bld Michelet, 31000 TOULOUSE

See all our sales

Definitions

The auctioneer conducts the auction.

There are two auction types :

  • Voluntary auctions : an owner provides freely items. The voluntary auction is organized in accordance with the provisions of the French Civil Code (laws of July 10, 2000 and July 20, 2011,art. L. 321-1 to L. 321-38 of the French Commercial Code). The fees are applied in addition to the hammer price. They are generally set at 20% pre-tax, i.e 24% after tax.Upcoming Voluntary Sales.
  • The judicial sales : a judicial sale is provided for by a law or regulation, or can be authorized by a judge. Fees in addition to the hammer price are set at 12% pre-tax, i.e 14.40% after tax.Upcoming judicial sales.
 

A sale can be described as an auction when anybody is free to participate, under the sole condition of his solvency.

Everybody is able to hear all the offers made, and can thus outbid. The object presented is won by the highest bidder.

Any bid has to be equal to or higher than the starting price, or must be higher than the one proposed by a competitor for the purchase of the thing.

The amount of every bid is repeated out loud by the auctioneer so that every bidder can hear it.

This way, auctions are an objective and automatic mode of designation of a price and a purchaser.

The purchase order corresponds to a specific maximum amount in euros up to which the auctioneer is mandated to buy the item. The auctioneer buys the item on behalf of his client, in accordance with the instructions of the purchase order form. The auctioneer aims to purchase the item at the lowest possible price and still under the maximum price his client has set.

 

How to bid ?

The auctions being "public", they are open to anyone who can bid, i.e to any creditworthy person.

The place where the sale takes place is public. The auctioneer ensures the free access to the sale.

The restrictions to participate in an auction are those of common law : non-emancipated minors, protected adults, people under the influence of alcohol.

The auctioneer may subject the participation to a prior registration and the presentation of a guarantee of payment, these conditions being objective, non-discriminatory and appropriate.

The price is shouted. The sale is conducted in French and bids are made in euros. The auctioneer conducts the operations. He designates the item for sale and announces a starting price. People start bidding. When it turns out that no one is willing to offer a higher price, the item is won. The lot is sold and the sale is over when the auctioneer blows the hammer and says 'Adjugé'.

It is possible to bid by raising your hand, the sign being immediately translated into figures by the auctioneer, who announces it orally.

If you can't attend the saleit is possible to place an absentee bid. You have to fill in a purchase order form with the highest amount you are willing to pay for the artwork..
Once your form is registered, you will receive a confirmation by email.

If you can't attend the saleit is possible to place an absentee bid. You have to fill in a purchase order form with the highest amount you are willing to pay for the artwork..

Once your purchase order is registered, you will have the confirmation by email. You may be required to provide a piece of identification for the buyer as well as his bank details.
For some objects of exceptional character and/or value, a guarantee deposit may be required.

If the purchase order is made on behalf of a legal entity such as a company, you may be required to provide a Kbis extract and the ID of the manager mentioned in this document.

If the auctioneer receives several orders for identical amounts on the same lot and if, at the auction, these orders represent the highest bids, it will be awarded to the bidder whose order has been received first. .

No purchase order lower than the low estimate is accepted.

Full contact details must be provided in the form.

If the purchase order has been completed, the bill of sale summarizing the designation of the objects purchased, the amount awarded and the total amount with the fees will be sent no later than 24 hours after the sale (excluding non-working days).

The sending is done to the email filled during the request or, in the absence of it, by postal way.

it is possible to place bids by telephone.

Bidding by telephone lets you take part in the auction without having to be present in the auction room. If you would like to do this you will need to book yourself in as a telephone bidder in advance. Places are available on a first-come-first-served basis. You will also need to fill in a telephone bid form, providing proof of identity and residence and a contact telephone. is the one by which the person asks to be called on the phone during the auction, to make a live auction. To do this, simply fill in a Telephone bid form.

Once your request is registered, you will have the confirmation by email or telephone. You may be required to provide an ID as well as bank details.
For some objects of exceptional character and/or value, a guarantee deposit may be required.

If the purchase order is made on behalf of a legal entity such as a company, you may be required to provide a Kbis extract and the ID of the manager mentioned in this document.

Please note that this is a free service provided by the Auction House that can not be held responsible in case of late request or defective telephone link or in case of any error made in telephone contact.

No telephone bid form for objects whose low estimate is lower than 200 euros is accepted.

 

If you want to bid on the internet, the Auction House Labarbe uses the platform Interencheres Live. Live sales are broadcast on https://www.interencheres-live.com/. They bring two new services:

  • of the live auctions it allows to remotely participate in a real-time auction. From your computer, you can follow the auction fire and the auctioneer's comments during the sale (with sound and video). At any time and with a single click, you can bid as if you were in the room on the lots you want.
  • of the secret purchase orders : interencheres-live.com offers a service of secret purchase orders. Secret purchase orders are automatically executed and computerized. Their maximum amounts are not disclosed to the auctioneer. The bidders benefit from the guarantee of a purchase at the fairest price if they win the auction.

If you want to participate in an auction live or deposit a secret purchase order, kindly note that you have to register BEFORE the sale on interencheres-live.com.

Taxes are alway included in the hammer price, but the selling fees are not. Selling fees are a percentage calculated on the total amount of the sales bill. They can cary from one sale to another.

If you bid on the internet, an additional 3-percent fee applies. It pays the subcontractor responsible for organizing the auction live.

The payment of any item is due immediately. spot.

You can pay cashcash in the limit of €1000 with fees for French citizens and up to €15,000 with fees for anybody whose tax domicile is abroad.

The payment can also be made by credit card when the place of the sale allows it. 4% additional fees are charged to purchasers holding foreign cards.

If you bids were placed remotely, payment must be made upon receipt of the sales slip. You can pay by making an appointment with our accounting department, or use a bank transfer. Please contact us to retrieve our bank details.

For purchases made via the platform interencheres-live.com, the total amount can be debited from the credit card you've used for the registration.

How to pick up your purchase ?

  • I'm leaving with my goods on the same day.
    The staff will give me my goods on presentation of my sale slip (my invoice) fully paid.
  • I can not immediately take away my goods.
    Exceptionally, the Labarbe House can give you 72 hours to pick up your items. You should find out the place of storage of your object by contacting us beforehand. We will give you your good on presentation of my sale slip (my invoice) fully paid.
  • You can also mandate the person of your choice to pick up your property. In this case, you have to :
  1. fill out and send it to the Auction House a withdrawal authorization of the goods by a third person.
  2. This third person must present a copy of the sale slip fully paid, the withdrawal authorization, and his ID. If the sale slip hasn't been fully paidthis person has to do it at the auction house, in cash up to €1000 with fees or by credit card.
  • You pick up your property in person.
    On presentation of a sale slip fully paid, the goods can be withdrawn at the auction house. during opening hours, or when appropriate, at another place of sale. You should find out where your good is stored by contacting us beforehand.
  • You mandate the person of your choice to pick up your property. In this case, you must :
    1. Inform us by filling in a withdrawal authorization by a third party.
    2. This person must present the copy of the fully paid slip sale, the withdrawal authorization, and an ID. If the sale slip hasn't been fully paidthis person has to do it at the auction house, in cash up to €1000 with fees or by credit card.

    You should first find out where your good is stored by contacting us beforehand.

  • You want to call a carrier.
    You are free to call the carrier of your choice. If you don't know any transport company, the auction house can give you the details of a professional. In any case, you must :
  1. Inform us by filling in a withdrawal authorization of the goods by a third person.
  2. Transmit to the carrier a copy of my fully paid sale slip.
  3. You should first find out where your good is stored by contacting us beforehand.

Unless otherwise specified, the property is sent in good condition. The auction house is not liable for any loss or damage. The cost of the transport is the responsability of the purchaser.

  • I wish my purchases to be sent by post.
    It will be perceived a A price for packaging and shipping is required. It changes from 5 to €20 depending on the weight and volume of the property. Unless otherwise specified, the property is sent in good condition. The auction house is not liable for any loss or damage. The costs and the responsibility of the transport belong to the purchaser. In case of a postal sending, please contact us so that we can give you a quote. The auction House can refuse the packaging service if it seems to be too risky, given the nature of the object. The transport being carried out under the full responsibility of the buyer, please contact us to know if the good you want to acquire can be dispatched.