Meaningless art

Thomas Gainsborough, Portrait of Giusto Tenducci. Estimated at EUR400-600,000.

Fernand Leger, The Yellow Checkerboard (1918). Estimated at EUR3-5million.

Gustaf Miklos, Pair of stools (1928/9). Estimated at EUR2-3million.

Jean-Michel Frank, shagreen end table (1928), Estimated at EUR100-150,000.

"Meaningless" to Pierre Berge after the death of his partner Yves Saint Laurent. This staggering collection is up for auction by Christie's from 23-25 February, and a wander through their catalogue received today, is a history lesson in predominantly C20th art of the finest quality.

These are a very few of the 733 items, which are estimated to achieve a total of EUR200-500 million.

In yesterday's Independent, M Berge suggests: "Everyone dreams of attending their own funeral. I am going to attend the funeral of my collection".

Most of the proceeds are expected to go to charity, especially AIDS research.