PARIS, FRANCE.- This sale, the first of its kind at Sotheby’s Paris, attracted many buyers to the Galerie Charpentier who remained active throughout the sale. Thirty telephone lines were constantly open to relay bids originating from France as well as from abroad, principally from the United States, but also from England, Germany, Italy, Belgium, South Africa and Japan. The sale’s total far surpassed its high estimate, as the auction was originally expected to total between € 1.5 and 1.9 million. Several lots doubled, tripled and even achieved tenfold their pre-sale estimates.
The first part of the sale comprised about one hundred lots, originating from an important private collection of Art Nouveau furniture, glass and objects. The prices obtained during the sale confirm the rebirth of collectors’ interests in Art Nouveau pieces, especially mahogany and gilt bronze furniture by Majorelle, such as his pedestal table ‘aux orchydées’ (lot 104) that sold for 95,050 € ($87,360 – £59,930) and his desk ‘aux nénupahres’ (lot 110) that went for 67,450 € ($61,900 – £42,464). The works in glass by Gallé and Daum incited spirited competition, as did a small, rare bronze (Ht: 14 cm or 5.5 in, lot 149), the Eléphant mendiant (Begging Elephant) by Rembrandt Bugatti, 1908, that garnered an impressive 106,550 € ($97,930 – £67,181).
Several important bids were applauded in the sale room, in particular the work of Marc du Plantier. This was the case for his curule chair in ebony veneer (lot 174), sold for 225,750 € ($207,490 – £142,340), and for his small iron stand (lot 173), sold for 165,250 € ($151,880 – £104,191), achieving tenfold their pre-sale estimates. These are new record prices and points of reference for the artist’s work.
The same goes for two bronze, triangular easels by Raymond Subes (1891-1970) that decorated his personal dining room in Paris and that sold for more than five times their presale estimations. One (lot 158) was sold for 75,500 € ($69,390 – £69,389), and the other (lot 159) obtained 67,450 € ($61,990 – £42,525). Strong prices were achieved for two lamp stands by Jean-Michel Frank (lot 152, sold for 41,000 € - $37,720 – £25,876, and lot 153, sold for 36,400 € - $33,488 – £22,973), and for the armchair and its footstool by Ruhlmann (lot 160, sold for 95,050 € - $87,360 – £59,930).
The success of this first sale of 20th Century Decorative Arts is very encouraging. It is a field that Sotheby’s is resolved to develop in Paris.
