The 150 items we saved for our Highlight sale at the end of the year made collectors’ pulses race. The house is pleased to have received total revenues of 110% of the lower sum of estimates combined. 60% of the lots on display could be sold.

Interest in the work by Henry van de Velde was very high. Three quarters of the furniture, jewellery and objects on offer could be allocated. The belt buckle depicted on the catalogue cover, from the property of the Osthaus family, attained a gross proceeds of € 68,000 (estimate € 40,000 – 60.000). A ‘Havana’ easy chair multiplied its lower reserve by five and will be part of a renowned German private collection from now on (gross proceeds € 48,000). Two small cabinets also surpassed their estimates. Even later designs, like a folding chair for Belgian Rail, were coveted.

Alongside the name giver of the auction, Emile Gallé, his most important opponent, was in the centre of attention. A miniature vase doubled its lower estimate and goes to an Italian private collection for € 25,000 (total revenues). The ‘Rose de France’ vase from the designer’s family received the highest bid of the evening. A collector allowed € 145,000 (gross proceeds) for the vase that had been dedicated to Gallé’s daughter (estimate: € 120,000 – 160,000).

Great demand was coming from museums. A German public collection purchased a salon Richard Riemerschmid had designed for Dr. Edel, Dresden for € 20,000. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s prototype ‘Weissenhof’ chair will be part of another German Museum for € 10,000 (gross proceeds).

The successors of the all-rounder van de Velde were highly popular as well. Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky’s ‘Frankfurt kitchen’ will go to Spain for € 12,500 (gross proceeds). A ceiling light by Marianne Brandt from the Bauhaus at Dessau also received € 12,500 (gross proceeds) and thus quadrupled its lower estimate.

Special attention was given to Le Corbusier, whose built-in cabinet was sold for € 19,000 (gross proceeds). Two bidders fought fervently over a tapestry dedicated to him by his associates at the project of building the planned city of Chandigarh and raised its gross revenues to € 39,000 (estimate € 13,000 – 14,000).

Moreover, Gabriella Crespi’s writing desk from the year 1979 surpassed its estimate of € 20,000 – 25,000 by far and reached € 40,000 (gross proceeds).