New York Design Sales, June 2022 / Review

Greene & Greene, ‘Lantern from the Porte Cochere of the Robert R. Blacker House, Pasadena, California’ circa 1908. (Christie’s ‘Important Design’ Lot 375, estimate $150,000-$250,000, sold for $1,502,000)
COURTESY: © Christie’s Images Ltd

MORE THAN $75 million was spent by collectors in June at Christie’s and Sotheby’s over the course of five design sales in New York.

Diego Giacometti, ‘Cerf et Renard Console’, circa 1972. (Sotheby’s ‘Important Design’ Lot 421, estimate $1,500,000-$2,000,000, sold for $2,349,000)
COURTESY: Sotheby’s

Christie’s kicked off on the 6^th of June with the single owner sale ‘The Spirit of Paris’ (72 lots), which brought in a total of $11,510,070 ($9,144,261 hammer) against a total high estimate of $7,652,400.

Jean-Michel Frank, ‘Cabinet’, circa 1935. (Christie’s ‘Spirit of Paris’ Lot 4, estimate $500,000-$700,000, sold for $1,500,000)
COURTESY: © Christie’s Images Ltd

The following day, the auction house held its various owner ‘Design’ sale (178 lots), which totalled $17,667,216 (hammer $14,188,600), against a total high estimate of $13,441,000.

T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, ‘Mesa Table’, 1952. (Christie’s ‘Design’ Lot 137, estimate $200,000- $300,000, sold for $428,400)
COURTESY: © Christie’s Images Ltd

At Sotheby’s, the collection of Delphine and Reed Krakoff (180 lots) totalled $12,893,580 (hammer price $10,233,000), below the total high estimate of $14,412,700. The various owner sale, however, totalled $22,448,788 (hammer price $17,903,800), satisfactorily above the total high estimate of $15,775,500.

Pierre Legrain, ‘Floor Lamp’, circa 1923. (Sotheby’s ‘Important Design’ Lot 307, estimate $15,000-$20,000, sold for $151,200)
COURTESY: Sotheby’s

Finally, the outstanding single owner sale ‘Crafting Modernism’ at Sotheby’s (78 lots) totalled $3,880,422 (hammer price $3,079,700), against a total high estimate of $5,698,000.

George Nakashima, ‘Minguren II Dining Table’, circa 1982. (Sotheby’s ‘Crafting Modernism’ Lot 545, estimate $150,000-$ 200,000, sold for $403,200)
COURTESY: Sotheby’s

These sales presented an impressive number of rare and important works of design, and it is difficult to select only a handful to comment on. At Christie’s the highlights among the top lots were the straw marquetry cabinet by Jean-Michel Frank, which sold for $1,500,000 (Lot 4, hammer price $1,200,000, estimate $500,000–$700,000), a large ‘Mesa’ table by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, which sold for a record $428,400 (Lot 137, hammer price $340,000, estimate $200,000–$300,000) and the unique ‘Table aux Antilopes’ by François-Xavier Lalanne for $3,060,000 (Lot 140, $2,500,000 hammer, estimate $1,000,000–$1,500,000).

François-Xavier Lalanne, ‘Table aux Antilops’, 2007. (Christie’s ‘Design’ Lot 140, estimate $1,000,000- $1,500,000, sold for $3,060,000)
COURTESY: © Christie’s Images Ltd

At Sotheby’s, the unique lantern by the American Arts and Crafts designer brothers, Greene & Greene, sold for $1,502,000 (Lot 375, hammer $1,200,000, estimate $150,000–$250,000), the charming ‘Cerf et Renard’ console by Diego Giacometti sold for $2,349,000 (Lot 421, hammer price $1,900,000, estimate $1,500,000–$2,000,000) and the exceedingly rare refectory table, with cement top, by Jean Prouvé for $1,623,000 (Lot 44, hammer price $1,300,000, estimate $350,000–$550,000).

Jean Prouvé, ‘Refectory Table’, circa 1939. (Sotheby’s ‘Important Design’ Lot 44, estimate $350,000-$550,000, sold for $1,623,000)
COURTESY: Sotheby’s

The American Studio design sale at Sotheby’s was a test for this category, which is still emerging in the secondary market. Sadly it did not meet the success it deserved and left some of the more audacious works unsold such as the ‘Three-Legged Thumb’ desk and armchair by Wendell Castle (Lot 569, estimate $80,000–$120,000). At Christie’s, the stunning necklace by the American designer Harry Bertoia, offered in the various owner sale, also remained unsold – perhaps due to its robust estimate ($200,000–$300,000).

Harry Bertoia, ‘Necklace’, circa 1942-3. (Christie’s ‘Design’ Lot 217, estimate $200,000-$300,000)
COURTESY: © Christie’s Images Ltd

Nevertheless, works presenting more attractive estimates did not go unnoticed and resulted in impressive prices, perhaps proving that an auction handling pieces across a wide range of media and appealing to a broad variety of well-calibrated interests can still arouse passions. At Sotheby’s, an elegant floor lamp by Pierre Legrain sold for $151,200, more than ten times its estimate (Lot 307, hammer price $120,000, estimate $15,000–$20,000) and the ‘Minguren II’ dining table made by George Nakashima for Rupert Smith (chief printmaker to Andy Warhol) sold for $403,200 (Lot 545, hammer price $320,000, estimate $150,000–$200,000), a record for the model. At Christie’s, the stunning easel by Armand-Albert Rateau sold for $504,000 against an estimate of $25,000–$35,000 (Lot 33, hammer price $400,000).

Armand Albert Rateau, ‘Easel’, circa 1925. (Christie’s ‘Spirit of Paris’ Lot 33, estimate $25,000- $35,000, sold for $504,000)
COURTESY: © Christie’s Images Ltd

These jaw-dropping results seem almost closer to contemporary art sale results than design. However, should one look more closely, there were only a few new record prices and the astonishing totals appear to be proportional with the robust estimates assigned to top lots and, critically, include the buyer’s premium fees. It is arguable whether these estimates are a reflection of the undeniably increasing interest in high-end design, the inflation that saw all art categories fetch high prices, or the incredibly competitive market for sourcing. Although the same names can be found in the top lots, it was reassuring to see a greater variety of designers and periods presented in the sales.

However, the bidding activity was lively and the market holds on, for now …