The recent sale Important Design sale hosted by Sotheby’s collected $29,552,776, selling 80% of the lot while setting high hopes for the art market.
Featuring some of the rarest pieces of design from the last century with notable examples of Art Deco, Post-War, and Contemporary articles, the sale concluded with 77% of the sold lot getting more than their estimates. One of the prime articles that took the auction threshold up a notch was François-Xavier Lalanne’s Grand Rhinocrétaire II, selling for $16.42 million. This sculptural writing desk is a product of the intellect of François and his wife Claude and is one of the monumental pieces of the 20th century enveloped in a gold-patinated bronze. The article was estimated at $3 million to $5 million, but after 45 bids and a phone call with the auction house specialists, its bidding reached an impressive $13.75 million ($16.42 million with fees).
Following this, Pomme de Jardin by Claude grabbed $1.14 million. Taking inspiration from the artist’s recurring theme, this work positions itself in the conversations of the late 19th century and 20th century alongside the painted arrangements of Paul Cezzane, Magritte’s fantastical imagery, and Picasso’s geometric sculptural forms.
Other significant items that were on the lot were Rembrandt Bugatti’s Petite Panthère, Diego Giacometti’s Table Grecque avec Oiseau Tête Droite and Mirror, and Jean Royère’s Ours Polaire Sofa.
The event indicates that with prized articles, the art market can still make gains, and the brokers seem to keep looking formore collectors who are willing to put such items on auction.
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