Christie’s New York Announces Design and Tiffany

NEW YORK – Christie’s is honored to announce Design and Tiffany, two live sales taking place in New York this December. The various-owner Design sale on Thursday, December 7th will showcase over 140 exceptional works from 1900 to present day. Tiffany, taking place on Friday, December 8th, consists of 41 exquisite lots and is a celebration of Louis Comfort Tiffany, Tiffany Studios, and the firm that inspired the artistry of glass making in America.

Leading the Design sale is an important Illuminated Library Table designed by Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouvé for La Maison de L’Étudiant, Paris, circa 1951 (estimate $1,000,000-1,500,000).

The auction will include important post-war iconic designs by French designer Jean Royère such as the ‘Ambassador’ suite, and rare lighting such as the ‘Jet d’eau’ Floor Lamp (estimate $80,000-120,000). The pivotal era of French design is further augmented by Georges Jouve, Serge Mouille, and Mathieu Mategot, along with more contemporary French designers, Ingrid Donat and Philippe Anthonioz.

The sale showcases French Art Deco masterworks from the Jerry Moss Collection, including the stunning dinanderie table by Jean Dunand for Templeton Crocker, San Francisco circa 1928, the important and rare cabinet by Jean Goulden and Jean Dunand, presented at the Galerie Georges Petit in 1923 and the impressive ‘Biches dans un sous-bois’ panel by Jean Dunand in the artist’s signature technique ‘lacque arrachée’. Celebration of Art Deco continues with the inclusion of the iconic ‘Birth of Aphrodite’ panels created by Jean Dupas for the Grand Salon of the Normandie, and Jean Dunand’s extraordinary bed ‘Aux Nénuphars et Poissons’ in lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlays, formerly in the collection of Steven A. Greenberg. Modernism from the 1930s is represented by three works by avant-garde artist Eileen Gray, including fitted furniture for her bedroom on Rue Bonaparte, an asymmetrical linear construction in grey-painted wood and aluminium, formerly in the collection of the Château de Gourdon.

Works by important 20th century artists Les Lalanne will be featured in the sale, including a black Bélier by François-Xavier Lalanne (estimate $700,000-1,000,000), a ‘Singe Alternatif’ (estimate $700,000-1,000,000) and a superb ‘Singerie’ Armchair by Claude Lalanne ($400,000-600,000).

Blurring the line between sculpture and furniture is further explored by Diego Giacometti, including the great Berceau Table ‘modèle aux chats’ (estimate $300,000-500,000) from the Estate of Michael A. Mennello and acquired directly from the artist in 1985.

Italian design will be celebrated with a collection of works by Gio Ponti from the Villa Goldschmidt, Buenos Aires, such as the ‘Mariposa’ Lounge Chair, and designs by Fontana Arte and Max Ingrand. Unique works of American design will also be presented, with commissions by Greene & Greene, Frank Lloyd Wright and Isamu Noguchi. In particular, Noguchi’s Contoured Landscape Bronze, model for Riverside Playground, which represents the artist’s vision of the “playground as sculptural landscape” on the upper West Side of Manhattan in New York city. American post war design will also be illustrated with rare works by George Nakashima, Harry Bertoia, Judy Kensley McKie and Scott Burton, which complete a glimpse into the full spectrum of 20^th and 21^st century Design.

Tiffany will offer extraordinary lighting designs by Tiffany Studios, including the superb and rare ‘Dragonfly’ table lamp with a rare Favrile blown glass base with pebble and filigree decoration from the Collection of Edwin E. Hayward, Manager of the Ecclesiastical Arts Department at Tiffany Studios ($180,000-220,000), the spectacular ‘Butterfly and Yellow Rose’ table lamp (estimate $100,000-150,000), and the rare ‘Black-Eyed Susan’ floor lamp (estimate $150,000-250,000). Also highlighting the sale is an important and rare ‘Dragonfly’ table lamp in red, rippled dichroic glass with a cattail base (estimate $250,000-350,000) and an iconic ‘Wisteria’ with tree-form base (estimate $150,000-250,000), which demonstrates the intricacy and expert craftmanship of the Studios.

The auction features several important scenic windows, including an important ‘Magnolia and Iris’ window (estimate $200,000-300,000) from a private collection, Tiffany’s Important ‘Grapevine and Trellis’ arched window (estimate $250,000-350,000), and the vivid Medallion Landscape window (estimate $70,000-100,000).

Celebrated patterns such as the ‘Poppy’, ‘Nasturtium’, and ‘Tulip’ will dazzle in vibrant colors and complex glass. The Studios bronze works of ‘fancy goods’ are represented by the stunning ‘Fern’ mirror, and the superb enameled Rhinoceros Beetle Stamp Box. Early experimental glass inspired by nature comes in many forms and variety, such as the ‘Egyptian Onion’ vase (estimate $15,000-20,000) and an Aquamarine paperweight vase (estimate $20,000-30,000).