International Design

Among the French design offer, early versions by world-renowned lighting designer Serge Mouille are captivating; the wall light 'Grand Saturne' (1957 - Estimate € 8,000 - 9,000), the table light 'Trépied' (1954 - estimate 6,000 - 7,000) as well as the 'applique mural aux bras pivotante' (1953 - Estimate € 5,000 - 6,000) should not be missing from any important collection. Charlotte Perriand's furniture from ‘Les Arcs' is also exciting; two sideboards and a dressing table (circa 1967) at estimates of € 2,000 - 3,000. Increasingly popular: furniture and objects by Philippe Starck! Chairs, stools, newspaper racks and more for estimated prices from € 200 - € 900.

Italian design has a strong presence, too. Lighting classics such as Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni's 'Taraxacum' ceiling light (1960 - Estimate € 900 - 1,500), Andrea Bellosi's 'Arc en Ciel' floor lamp (1980 - Estimate € 2,500 - 3,500) as well as Gino Sarfatti's functional floor lamp '1086' (1961 - Estimate 2,200 - 3,000) are most wanted. The unusual designs of design superstar Ettore Sottsass find particularly wide-spread attention as well; this time, his floor lamps 'Treetops' (1981 - estimated price € 1,800 - 2,400), 'Callimaco' (1980 - Estimate € 900 - 1,200) and the rare ceiling light 'Firenze' (1994 - Estimate € 5,000 - 6,000) are on offer; not to forget, his iconic mirror 'Ultrafragola' (1970 - Estimate € 5,000 - 6,000). Iconic is also the 'Cab chair' by Mario Bellini from 1979; a set of ten of the comfortable armchairs can be bid for at an estimated price of € 4,500 - 5,500.

Design from the USA: The 'Slab table 1', already designed in the 1940s by George Nakashima, impresses once again through its choice materials and workmanship of the highest quality. Hard to find on the European market, the estimate of € 22,000 - 26,000 for this three-legged version from 1959 seems reasonable. A beautiful Swiss collection of American design classics in excellent condition completes the chapter. For example: Two 'Lounge Chairs' by Eames with Ottoman, already in the new XL version (1956 - Estimate € 4,500 - 5,500, each), the iconic 'Time Life Stools' 'A/B/C' (1960 - Estimate € 500 - 600 each), two deck chairs, 'Asymmetric Chaise’, in white and black by Harry Bertoia (circa 1950 - Estimate € 5,000 - 6,000) as well as four of George Nelson's 'Pretzel Chairs' (1952 - Estimate € 8.000 - 9.000) from the 2008 re-edition, limited to 1000 pieces, bring the Californian lifestyle to your home.

Scandinavian design also scores well again. Design icons such as Hans Wegner's versatile 'Valet chair' from 1953 (estimate € 6,000 - 7,000), his extremely rare couch 'GE 1' with ottoman - in museum quality - (1954 - Estimate € 10,000 - 15,000) as well as Børge Mogensen's rustic 'Hunting Lodge' armchair, already designed in 1950 (Estimate € 7,000 - 9,000) and the two, particularly elegant, early folding armchairs from the pen of Fabricius / Kastholm for Poul Bachmann (1963 - Estimate € 4,500 - 5,000, each) portray the quality range of the offer well. Also rarely found in the market: Erik Ole Jørgensen's 'Lounge Chair BO 360' (1957 - Estimate € 5,000 - 6,000). -The low, comfortable, maternal-like seating position tempts to linger in it. Also on offer are Alvar Aalto's classic desk with mobile drawer (1933 - Estimate € 2,000 -2,500) and two of Verner Panton's famous 'S - chairs' (1965 - Estimate € 2,800 - 3,500, each).

Exceptional highlights can also be found in the International Design of the 1980s - 2020s. Ron Arad is represented here with his sprawling 'Well Tempered Chair’ made of sheet steel (1986/87 - Estimate € 8,000 - 12,000), Marc Newson takes part with two of his distinctive bicycles for Biomega (1999 - Estimate € 4,000 - 5,000) and Shiro Kuramata with his 'Revolving Cabinet' (1970 - Estimate € 2,800 - 3,200), the extremely rare 'Kyoto' side table (1983 - Estimate € 2,500 - 3,500) and his 'Sofa with Arms' (1982 - Estimate € 1,800 - 2,200). The 'Suspension Lamp' (1991) by the world famous Austrian artist Franz West is estimated at € 2,500 - 3,500. A design classic of the future is probably going to be the lavishly made armchair 'Hortensia' (2018/19) by contemporary Spanish artist Andrés Reisinger (with Júlia Esqué). Its approximately 30,000 rosé-colored polyester leaves deceptively imitate the original from nature. The pre-series sample is estimated at € 12.000 - 15.000.

American fifties have the edge.

Most of the winners of the auction come from the USA: The interest in the designs of the couple Charles and Ray Eames is unbroken. In addition to a number of their comfortable office chairs, three versions of the famous lounge chair '670' with ottoman came out on top this time. The highest bid was placed for a 'Lounge chair XL' with Santos rosewood veneer, which a German collector secured for EUR 5,200 (lot 523). Naturalized from Finland, Eero Saarinen was also represented with rare versions of his design icons. A set of four 'Tulip' '151S' chairs in black was highly sought after and was bid on from EUR 2,200 to 4,700 (lot 519). Saarinen's pair of side tables from the same series, in beautiful dark red marble, almost tripled in price, rising from EUR 800 to EUR 2,100. The last two pieces of furniture mentioned will also be transferred into the German collection. The absolute highlights of the auction came from Japanese-American George Nakashima. His 'Slab I' table from 1959 easily confirmed its estimate at EUR 22,000 (lot 504). The 'Mira' bar stool and the two 'Conoid' chairs in collaboration with Nakashima's daughter Mira were also hotly battled over. The happy new owner was only prevailed against numerous competitors for the bar stool at EUR 13,000 (lot 537).

In the Italian chapter, such illustrious names as Gino Sarfatti, Angelo Mangiarotti, Enzo Mari and Ettore Sottsass were able to further distinguish themselves.

Customers on the phones and on several online platforms fought fervently over Sarfatti's rare 1961 reading light '1086' in white. A German collector was finally able win through at EUR 7,000 (lot 314). Enzo Mari's sculptures were also very popular. His 'Cubo S, serie con sfera nera opaca', 1959-63, a black sphere in a colorless Plexiglas cube, rose from EUR 700 to EUR 3,100 (lot 451). An elegant dining table by Angelo Mangiarotti, 1959, fetched EUR 5,000 (lot 298). Ettore Sottsas's 'Ultrafragola' mirror (lot 321) and his Callimaco floor lamp (lot 348) are now going to go to Paris for EUR 7,500 and EUR 1,300 respectively.

Speaking of Paris - of Philippe Starck's numerous objects, two sold particularly well: His 'Miss Dorn' chair from 1985 was bid up from EUR 300 to EUR 1,500 by numerous interested parties (lot 425), while his pair of vases from the 1990s rose from EUR 600 also to EUR 1,500 (lot 428).

Two particularly pleasant surprises should also be mentioned: Several bidders vehemently fought over the timelessly simple room divider '545' by Wilhelm Lutjens from 1953 and thus ensured a gratifying hammer price of EUR 8,000, which a customer from the USA was able to secure (lot 273) and the 'Obliqua' armchair by Swiss Mario Botta, from 1989, in a stylish zebra look, rose from EUR 800 to EUR 3,700 (lot 401).

You can find more international design furniture and furnishings in our after sale till 29. July 2022.