SALE RESULTS/ Christie’s Paris: Design
No surprises – Les Lalanne and Giacometti continue to woo collectors.
By Astrid Malingreau / 7th December 2021
Claude Lalanne, ‘Fauteuil Crocodile’, 2016 (Lot 178, estimate unknown. Sold for €1,460,000)
COURTESY: © Christie’s Images Limited 2021 / PHOTOGRAPH: Anna Buklovska
IN EARLY DECEMBER, Christie’s Paris held their annual winter various owners sale. The 205 lots totalled €8,695,375 (€7,015,900 hammer), against a total high estimate of approximately €5.815.300,00*. The sale was 82.44% sold, helped by some very low reserves when it came to less fashionable lots. Once again, Les Lalanne and Diego Giacometti worked their magic and contributed to 41.7% and 21% respectively of the sales total.
The top lot of the sale was the ‘Fauteuil Crocodile’ by Claude Lalanne that fetched €1,460,000 (Lot 178, estimate unknown, hammer price €1.2 million) followed by the Diego Giacometti bench that sold for €1,016,000 (Lot 154, estimate €300,000-500,000, hammer price €830,000).
Diego Giacometti, ‘Bench’, circa 1970 (Lot 154, estimate €300,000-500,000. Sold for €1,016,000)
COURTESY: © Christie’s Images Limited 2021 / PHOTOGRAPH: Guillaume Onimus
The sale presented a beautiful and rare collection by the 1930s ceramist Jean Besnard that attracted collectors attention, in particular the bird ‘Pichet’ (pitcher) that fetched €47,500, making it one of the best performing lots of the sale (Lot 7, estimate €5,000-7,000, hammer price €38,000). Amongst the high performers was also the stunning early mirror by Line Vautrin that sold for €187,500 – more than three times its high estimate (Lot 54, estimate €40,000-60,000, hammer price €150,000,00).
Line Vautrine, ‘Mirror’, circa 1960 (Lot 54, estimate €40,000-60,000. Sold for €187,500)
COURTESY: © Christie’s Images Limited 2021 / PHOTOGRAPH: Nina Slavcheva
In a section dedicated to a private collection of works by Jacques Quinet, commissioned directly from the designer in 1960, the attention was mostly focused on lightning. For instance, a small lamp base sold for €18,750 against an estimate of €1,500-2,000 (Lot 91, sold for 750% above its high estimate, hammer price €15,000), but an elegant ‘Meuble de rangement’ (storage cabinet) was bought in despite being offered at a starting price of €5,500 (Lot 71, estimate €10,000-15,000).
Jacques Quinet, ‘Lamp base’, circa 1960-61 (Lot 91, estimate €1,500-2,000. Sold for €18,750)
COURTESY: © Christie’s Images Limited 2021 / PHOTOGRAPH: Anna Buklovska
It was disappointing not to see more bidding action around the rare and early example of the ‘Low chair’ by Gerrit Rietveld acquired directly from the designer by Eva Besnyö (1910-2003) and brought to sale by her family. The chair sold for €47,500 (Lot 128, estimate €35,000-50,000, hammer price €38,000).
Gerrit Rietveld, ‘Low chair, circa 1930 (Lot 128, estimate €35,000-50,000. Sold for €47,500)
COURTESY: © Christie’s Images Limited 2021
This sale confirms once again the strong interest for recognised designers and designs. However, collectors also do pay attention to the provenance and the estimate and strong works will almost always find a new home.
* an approximation as the estimate for ‘Fauteuil Crocodile’ remained concealed.
Design sale at Christie’s took place on 1st December, 2021.
Astrid Malingreau is an independent advisor focused on 20th century contemporary design. She previously worked for Christie's in London and New York as a specialist in decorative arts and design.
View all articles by Astrid Malingreau
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