NEW YORK, NY.- Christies Luxury Week in New York continued with Design and Tiffany on Wednesday, December 11. Together, the two sales achieved a total of $20. 7 million. The sales saw exceptional results for works by a number of notable designers, including culture-defining Art Deco works of Armand-Albert Rateau, Jean-Michel Frank, and Marc du Plantier. The sale concludes a year of success for the department, in 2024, Design has performed at over $150M in sales which is the third highest total ever.
Works by Diego Giacometti led the Design sale; A Pair of 'Pommeaux de canne' Armchairs, for Marc Barbezat sold for $1,865,000 against a high estimate of $800,000 and a Set of four 'Maeght' Chairs, for Marc Barbezat also achieved $1,865,000. The sales third highest price was another lot by Diego Giacomettia Rare Dining Table, for Marc Barbezat which sold for $1,502,000.
Jean Royère rare and important designs performed well across the sale with stellar results for the Rare Trefle Floor Lamp, which realized $504,000, the Mille Pattes Floor Lamp, which sold for $466,200, and the Forme Libre or Cachalot Low Table, which made $453,600. The French post-war market continues to roar with outstanding results for Georges Jouve Oiseau outpacing its high estimate at $201,600 and Paul Dupre Lafon and Alberto Giacomettis Unique Side Table with Sphinge, selling above its high estimate for $189,000.
The afternoons Tiffany sale was 100% sold by lot; the top lot was a Tiffany Studios Landscape Window with Dogwood Tree and Birds which sold for $1,108,800, the fifth highest auction price achieved for a Tiffany Studios window. The strength of this market continues to ring with a vibrant cohort of buyers the world around with bidders participating from Asia, Europe and America in the sale. A Rare 'Oriental Poppy' Floor Lamp achieved the second highest price in the auction, achieving $504,000. An additional highlight included a Tiffany Studios 'Nautilus' Desk Lamp achieving $50,400, six times over its low estimate of $8,000. The Important Tiffany from the Villa Waldbühl, Switzerland: A Private Collection from an Interior by Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott, with 7 lots offered, far exceeded its presale auction estimate selling at an aggregate of $679,140, or 215% versus low estimate. Notably, the Rare Pony Begonia Table Lamp, sold for $176,400, a record for the model.