IN SOTHEBY’S PARIS $33,6 MILLION SALES OF
CONTEMPORARY ART AND DESIGN
INCLUDING SEMINAL PAINTINGS BY PIERRE SOULAGES AND ZAO WOU-KI
PLUS NEW AUCTION RECORDS FOR
HERMANN NITSCH AND JÖRG IMMENDORFF
Sotheby’s sale of ‘Important Design’ was led by a one-of-a-kind hippopotamus themed bathroom suite, which sold for €2.1 million / $2.4 million (lot 115, est. €2-2.5 million). Designed by François-Xavier Lalanne, an artist renowned for his ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, the three bronze life-size hippopotamuses – a mother and children – feature moveable parts that reveal a bathroom set like no other, comprising a bathtub, working sink and vanity, toilet and bidet. Commissioned in the nineties by the present owner, the sale marked the first time the spectacular piece has been offered at auction.
A further five works by the designer were offered in the ‘Important Design’ sale, which totalled €11.2 million / $12.6 million, soaring above its pre-sale estimate of €7.1-10 million. 82% of the lots offered were sold, with 70% of those exceeding their high estimates. The auction saw 52% of its participants bid online, and over a third of all bidders were aged 40 or younger. Among the other pieces offered by Lalanne was Lapin à Vent, which leaped beyond its high estimate to sell for €1.9 million / $2.2 million (est. €1-1.5 million) – the second highest price achieved in the sale.
Further Highlights: Aigle Vase by Alberto Giacometti more than doubled its high estimate to bring a total of €1.5 million / $1.6 million (lot 51, est. €400.000-600.000) in its auction debut. This is the second highest price realised for a vase by the artist, following Giacometti’s “Aigle” Vase that sold for $1.9 million at Sotheby’s New York in December 2019.
Two tables from the Art Déco period both exceeded their estimates in yesterday’s sale: made in 1930, Eugène Printz and Jean Dunand’s table tripled its high estimate, bringing a total of €225.000 / $252,662 (lot 30, €60.000-80.000), while Eileen Gray’s pine design reached €275.000 / $308,808 (lot 35, est. €120.000-150.000).
Please find the full results here.
