Phillips auction house just announced that they would resume live auctions after their spring season of sales had to be rescheduled due to COVID-19. And they are opening with the Design auction in London that’s set to feature several incredible pieces.
“Live sales continue to be a cornerstone of our business; therefore, it is with great joy that we are able to stage a full-scale preview of these exceptional works,” said Domenico Raimondo, Head of Design, Europe and Senior International Specialist, in a statement. “This June, we are delighted to present a carefully curated selection of works celebrating design in its many forms and reflecting Phillips’ approach to giving a fresh perspective to traditional collecting categories.”
So, what are some of the highlights? Well, the Claude Lalanne Unique low table from 1998 is stunning with a combo of patinated bronze, copper, and glass. It’s expected to sell for $318,000 to $445,000.
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“This unique table is an early example that captures Claude Lalanne’s imagination in full force, showcasing her ability to translate the ordinary into the sublime,” Raimondo told Departures. “The way she has mastered not only the bronze but her control over the patina on the leaves, and the gilding gives this table a beautiful chromatic quality.”
The Jean Dunand set of three nesting tables from 1925 (estimated to sell $152,000 to $190,000) is unique with their lacquered wood and eggshell inlay. “Finding a set of three nesting tables together is an incredibly rare thing as they’re often split up,” said Raimondo. “These examples are interesting because they were created after Dunand had mastered the art of lacquer, learning his technique from the Japanese lacquer artist Seizo Sugaare, who had previously worked with renowned Irish designer Eileen Gray.”
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And the Marx Newson “Orgone” chair made from polished and painted aluminum is expected to fetch between $254,000 and $381,000 for its rarity. “The way he dealt with the void inside and the mass of metal around it—this was the chair he had dreamed of creating since his earliest days as a designer,” said Raimondo.
These are just a few of the 175 lots that make up the sale. Other pieces include everything from French Art Deco and Contemporary through to Italian and Nordic Design, as well as British Studio ceramics. “We are offering exceptional examples of Italian Pre and Post-War design by Gio Ponti, Carlo Mollino, and including significant examples of French Art Deco from Albert Cheuret and Jean Dunang among others,” said Raimondo.
The live auction is set to take place on June 19, while presale public viewing is currently by appointment only from June 15-19.
