Christie’s Design Sale: Autumn 2019
The Design Edit's preview.
St. James’s, London
16th October 2019
By TDE News / 15th October 2019
Hervé van der Straeten, ‘Confusion’ ceiling light, 2008. Estimate £30,000 – £50,000 [PRICE ACHIEVED with buyers’ premium £40,000]
COURTESY: Christie’s
On 16th October Christie’s London is hosting two design sales. ‘Thinking Italian Design’, Christie’s second auction dedicated to the currently booming sector of twentieth century Italian design, includes rare and unique pieces by the likes of Carlo Mollino, Gio Ponti, Gino Sarfatti and Piero Fornasetti.
Gio Ponti and Piero Fornasetti, ‘Architettura’, a trumeau, 1951. Estimate £50,000-70,000 [PRICE ACHIEVED: £212,500]
COURTESY: Christie’s
The main sale meanwhile divides neatly into sections. A modern European section includes thirteen pieces from the magnificent Housden Collection of furniture by Gerrit Rietveld, commissioned directly from the designer in the 1950s and 1960s by British architect Brian Housden and his wife Margaret. The star piece here is undoubtedly the magnificent and rare ‘Elling’ sideboard, originally designed in 1919 (est. £50,000 – £70,000).
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, ‘Elling’ sideboard, designed 1919, executed circa 1962-5. Estimate £50,000-70,000 [PRICE ACHIEVED £125,000]
COURTESY: Christie’s
There is a complementary group of fine examples of Nordic and Danish mid-century modernism.
Paavo Tynell, ‘Snowflake’ ceiling light, model no. 10109, 1950s. Estimate £35,000 – £45,000 [PRICE . ACHIEVED £62,500]
COURTESY: Christie’s
But for collectors of contemporary collectible design perhaps the most intriguing section is the selection of pieces from a private house in Paris, entitled ‘A reawakening in contemporary French design’. There are particularly strong groups of works designed by Hervé van der Straeten and Hubert le Gall, some specially commissioned by the owner.
Hubert le Gall, ‘Anthémis Rouge et Or’, chest of drawers, 2002. Estimate £45,000 – £65,000 [PRICE ACHIEVED £93,750]
COURTESY: Christie’s
Hervé van der Straeten, ‘Etoile’, 2003. Estimate £30,000 – £50,000 [PRICE ACHIEVED £106,250]
COURTESY: Christie’s
Hervé van der Straeten, ‘Psychose’ console, 2008. Estimate £20,000 – £30,000 [PRICE ACHIEVED £25,000]
COURTESY: Christie’s
We invited Jeremy Morrison, European Head of Design, to share his highlights.
Jeremy Morrison, European Head of Design at Christie’s
COURTESY: Carpenters Workshop Gallery
Compiled by The Design Edit team
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