ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Three unknown Joan Miró works sell for €2.1m in Antibes

market-auction · 2026-04-24

On April 19, 2026, the auction house Metayer-Mermoz achieved a remarkable €2,113,825 from the sale of three previously unseen pieces by Joan Miró during its Twentieth-Century Art auction in Antibes. These artworks were found in the Nice studio of Edmond Vernassa (1926-2010), a notable plasticien associated with the École de Nice and the founder of the Plexi-Azur workshop. The auction featured over 380 lots, culminating in a total of €2,845,247. A bidding frenzy erupted for two panoramic drawings, drawing interest from American and French collectors both in-person and online. The auction house remarked that this outcome underscores its mission to unveil significant artworks.

Key facts

  • Three previously unknown Joan Miró works were sold at auction.
  • The auction took place on 19 April 2026 in Antibes.
  • Auction house Metayer-Mermoz conducted the sale.
  • The works were discovered in the Nice studio of Edmond Vernassa.
  • Edmond Vernassa was a plasticien of the École de Nice and founder of the Plexi-Azur workshop.
  • The three works achieved €2,113,825.
  • The total sale of over 380 lots reached €2,845,247.
  • Two panoramic drawings sparked a bidding war between American and French collectors.

Entities

Artists

  • Joan Miró
  • Edmond Vernassa

Institutions

  • Metayer-Mermoz
  • Plexi-Azur workshop
  • École de Nice

Locations

  • Antibes
  • France
  • Nice

Sources