NEW YORK, NY.- Christie’s spring sale of Design totals $8,308,875 with 95% sold by lot and 98% sold by value. There was active participation across all sales channels and registered bidders from Asia, the Americas, Europe, and United Kingdom.

The top lots of the sale were Pierre Chareau’s (1883-1950), 'Religieuse' Floor Lamp, Model SN31, Circa 1923, which sold for $2,172,500, establishing a new auction record for the designer and the top lot in a Design auction this season; and Eileen Gray’s (1879-1976) ‘Transat’ chair from 1927-30, which sold for $1,596,500, setting a world auction record for a ‘Transat’ chair.

Other notable results included Pierre Legrain’s (1888–1929) unique flatware service and canteen created for Madame Jeanne Tachard, which realized $828,500, more than doubling its initial estimate and establishing the second highest price for the designer at auction. Property from the Collection of Brad Grey exceeded initial estimates led by Francois-Xavier Lalanne (1927-2008), ‘Singe Avise’, Circa 2005, which realized $444,500, more than four times its low estimate; and Jean-Michel Frank (1895-1941), A Set of Library Steps, circa 1930, which sold for $175,000 more than ten times its low estimate. Strong prices were also achieved for vases by Jean Dunand (1877-1942), furniture by Pierre Chareau (1883-1950), and lamps by Marc du Plantier (1901-1975).

Sonja Ganne, International Head of Design, and Beth Vilinsky, Senior Specialist, Design, remark: “The strong results witnessed in today’s saleroom confirm the global appetite for masterpieces of French design and reaffirms our successful strategy of a tightly curated and focused sale. The appearance at auction of two collections such as these, comprised of works of the highest caliber, constituted an event of real significance. We were honored to present these works, from two notable collections, in a focused sale to showcase a comprehensive look at this important moment of design history.”

Earlier this spring, the Christie’s New York Design Department set the top price for a lot of design offered for the season with François-Xavier Lalanne (1927-2008), The Mayersdorff Bar, which realized $4,572,500 in the Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening sale on May 17, 2018.

NOTABLE RESULTS | PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE AMERICAN COLLECTION
• JEAN DUNAND (1877-1942) A VASE, CIRCA 1925 PRICE REALIZED: $100,000

• PIERRE CHAREAU (1883-1950) A DESK AND STOOL, MODEL 'MB405', CIRCA 1927 PRICE REALIZED: $312,500

• PIERRE LEGRAIN (1888–1929) A UNIQUE FLATWARE SERVICE AND CANTEEN, 1920-25 PRICE REALIZED: $828,500

• EMILE-JACQUES RUHLMANN (1879-1933) A 'GRANET' DESK, CIRCA 1930 PRICE REALIZED: $150,000

NOTABLE RESULTS | IN FOCUS: PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF BRAD GREY
• JEAN-MICHEL FRANK (1895-1941) A SET OF LIBRARY STEPS, CIRCA 1930 PRICE REALIZED: $175,000

• FRANCOIS-XAVIER LALANNE (19272008) 'SINGE AVISE', CIRCA 2005 PRICE REALIZED: $444,500

• JEAN ROYÈRE (1902-1981) A SET OF FOUR 'YO-YO' BAR STOOLS, 1950S PRICE REALIZED: $162,500

• MARC DU PLANTIER (1901-1975) A FLOOR LAMP, CIRCA 1960 PRICE REALIZED: $156,250