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Auction 078: Highlights of design-history V - 'llluminated!'

Auction No. 78 on 10. November 2008
Highlights of design-history V - 'llluminated!'

Post auction report

 

Thanks to dedicated museums, gallery owners and private collectors, some lots attained spectacular prices with the 'Dondolo' see-saw by Cesare Leonardi and Franca Stagi leading the way. It had been on offer for € 10,000 and gone up to € 44,000 in a heated bidding combat between a German museum and a Swiss gallery owner.

 

Very impressive prices were also attained for two Bauhaus designs: a rare tea caddy, designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld and manufactured at the Weimar Bauhaus, for that a German dealer was willing to pay € 25,000 (estimate € 18,000). A collector from Germany secured himself the famous chess set by Josef Hartwig in its original cardboard box by Joost Schmidt for € 12,500.

Half of the Art Nouveau lights found a new owner. Among the highest knockdowns are a very rare and early electric table light by Henry van de Velde for € 14,000, a table light by Emile Gallé, also hammered down for € 14,000 and a small Daum Frères table light for € 14,500 - a clear indication that established divisions of (applied) art are still quite popular.

Italian lights of the Sixties and Seventies, in general, obtained their estimates. So, Nanda Vigo’s ’Golden Gate' standard light for € 11,000, as well as Gino Sarfatti’s '1063' for € 17,000 went into a French collection.

Ron Arad’s designs presided over the contemporary section. His rare 'No spring chicken' chair, manufactured by Moroso changed into a German collection for € 14,000 the same collector did also win Danny Lane’s 'Etruscan chair' for € 7,500

Gross proceeds of this auction attained a satisfactory € 400,000 and help make the year 2008 with a total sum of 4.5 million in gross proceeds the most successful year in Quittenbaum’s 10-year history.

Nevertheless, unfortunately, some very interesting and rare lighting designs are still available. The items can be >> viewed and purchased at Quittenbaum’s until Dec. 10.

 

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