PARIS.- The Design Week at Artcurial will get underway with the sale of a collection of European design, on Wednesday 1 July at 6pm. Acquired and housed in a 17th century château by an enthusiast of post-war design, this collection of furniture and objects focuses on Italian and Scandinavian designers. Comprising nearly 130 lots, it is packed with treasures such as a pair of rare wingback armchairs (circa 1947) by Gio Ponti, from an edition manufactured by Ariberto Colombo, Cantù, estimate €80,000 to 120,000 and a ceiling light from Studio B.B.P.R., estimate €30,000 to 40,000.

On Thursday 2 July at 6pm the theme continues with a sale dedicated to Scandinavian Design. The selection of around a hundred lots showcases pieces by the biggest names in Nordic design including Paavo Tynell, Poul Henningsen, Alvar Aalto, Märta Blomstedt and Poul Kjærholm. Star lots include a large ceiling light mod. 9014 known as «Snowflake Number 1» from the Fantasia series (1947), created by Paavo Tynell, which has an estimate of €120,000 - 150,000.

The evening of 2 July will finish with the Art Déco &Design sale at 20h. Significant lots include an important set of dining room furniture created by René Herbst for the Aga Khan (estimate: €20,000 - 30,000), a dressing table and stool by Pierre Chareau and a «Maison du Mexique» bookcase by Charlotte Perriand (estimate: €100,000 - 150,000).

Collection of European Design
On 1 July, Artcurial will launch the event by presenting almost 130 lots of European design, amassed over many years by a globe-trotting collector who honed his taste for Italian, Scandinavian and French design during his travels around the world and across many European capitals. Housed in a 17th century château, the items in this contemporary collection were selected for their historic and aesthetic qualities. These are collector’s design pieces produced in small numbers.

Amongst the many highlights will be a selection of wingback armchairs, featuring a rare pair by the Italian Gio Ponti (estimate: €80,000 - 120,000), chairs by the Finn Märta Blomstedt (estimate: €8 000 - 12 000) and the OX armchair and ottoman by Danish designer Hans Wegner (estimate: €12,000 – 15,000). The work of Gio Ponti will be well represented with several pieces of furniture, and a lovely selection of ceramics dating from 1925-1930 by Richard Ginori will be another star attraction (estimate: €8,000 to 20,000 each).

Notable lighting lots on offer include a ceiling light from Studio B.B.P.R. (estimate: €30,000 - 40,000), a pair of wall lamps mod. 12661 from the « Quadri Luminosi » series by Gio Ponti, that belonged to the architect himself (estimate: €18,000 - 22,000), and a ceiling light with three swivel arms by French designer Serge Mouille (estimate: €15,000 - 25,000).

Italian design is prominent throughout this private collection with other key lots including a pair of armchairs by Ico Parisi, modèle 839. Several chairs from the «Musical Instruments» series designed by Piero Fornasetti will complete this set. Also noteworthy is a beautiful set of furniture by Poul Kjærholm, bringing rigour and modernity to this ensemble.

Scandinavian Design
The evening session on Thursday 2 July will commence at 6pm with a sale devoted to Scandinavian Design. Around a hundred lots by some of the biggest names in Nordic design will come under the hammer at Artcurial.

A rare suspension by Paavo Tynell called «Snowflake Number 1» from the Fantasia series will be offered. The model, usually composed of 30, 40 or 80 flakes, is here made of 96 flakes. It is the only one known to date and is estimated between €120,000 and 150,000.

Another exceptional piece will be offered for sale: a PH Grand Piano (1931) by the Danish Poul Henningsen. Combining elements borrowed from Bauhaus, modernist architecture and organic forms, and inspired by the exciting, emerging jazz movement, Poul Henningsen created this functional and modern version of the grand piano in 1931. Only a few examples were made, one of which sold for twice its estimate at Artcurial in April 2019. The copy offered today is estimated at between €100,000 and 150,000.

There is also an important armchair from the Hotel Aulanko in Finland. The hotel, designed by Märta Blomstedt and Matti Lampén, opened its doors in 1938 and was one of the first congress centres in Finland. The lounge, which was designed to provide a quiet space for guests, later became the symbol of this luxury hotel. At the heart of the room was the iconic «Aulanko Chair», specially designed by Märta Blomstedt, a leading figure in the Finnish functionalism movement. This rare armchair is estimated at between €60,000 and 80,000 and is presented in its original colours.

Art Déco - Design
The Design Week at Artcurial will close with a sale dedicated to Art Déco - Design on Thursday 2 July at 8pm. There will be around one hundred lots presented, focusing on modernist French artists of the 1920s and 1930s, the major designers of the 1950s and contemporary design.

Highlights include a set of dining room furniture designed by René Herbst for a private commission. A pioneer of modernism, and a follower of functionalism and rationalism, Herbst occupied a prominent place in the French scene from the 1920s to the 1960s, for his advancement of modern ideas and the connection between art and industry. This furniture was ordered by the Aga Khan III who, having taken on the private hotel at 55 rue Scheffer in Paris, decided to employ one of the major names in the European avant-garde, René Herbst, to redesign the exterior and interior of the building. The set of furniture in the sale, comprising a large table, ten armchairs, a console table and storage unit is estimated at €20,000 to 30,000.

There is also a bookcase known as « Maison du Mexique » made in 1952 by legendary French designer Charlotte Perriand, a pioneer of modernism and leading figure in the world of 20th century design who was recently honoured at the Fondation Louis Vuitton. This collector’s piece is expected to fetch between €100,000 and 150,000.

Several pieces by the French architect and designer Pierre Chareau will complement this selection. Amongst them, a dressing table MS423 and stool MT1015 in Rio rosewood (circa 1926), which is the model included in the exhibition dedicated to Pierre Chareau at the Georges Pompidou Centre between November 1993 to January 1994. This set has an estimate of €30,000 to 40,000.

Also noteworthy are several emblematic pieces by Hubert Le Gall, François-Xavier Lalanne and Pierre Charpin. Finally, there is a set of salons by Bernar Venet. This special order is estimated at €25,000 - 35,000.