Auction 170B

International Design

11. October 2023 at 3:00 PM CEST



On October 11, the second design auction will start with over 200 lots by international designers

One of the most important objects in the auction stems from British architect and industrial designer Ron Arad. In his London workshop One Off, the armchair 'Little Heavy' was made of welded sheet steel only in a small series. The seating object is patinated in bronze and can be purchased at an estimated price of 22.000 - 30.000 €; a rare and highly valued collector's item. Many of the seating furniture designed by Arad at this time were also included in the program of the Italian manufacturer Moroso and produced with colorful textile covers such as the 'Size Ten' armchair in cornflower blue, available at an estimate of 1,200 - 1,800 €.

As the auction in June already clearly showed, design from France is particularly popular. More than any other designer, Philippe Starck currently stands out: his ‘Illusion' glass table, designed in 1992 for Fiam, was knocked down in early summer in our house for the record price of 30,000 €. Now, we are pleased to offer you another example of this piece of furniture, which was only produced in a small series, and we are looking forward to active bidding battles. The estimate for the design piece marked with the number 33 is a moderate 15.000 - 25.000 €. A total of 16 items by Philippe Starck will be offered, ranging from ashtrays to seating furniture, at estimates ranging from € 250 to € 15,000.

The classics of French design are also represented: the ‘LC 2’ two-seater sofa, the ’LC 4‘ chaise longue and ’CP 1’wall lights are available at starting prices between 900 and 1,800 €. From Charlotte Perriand we also offer rare wooden furniture. The ‘Meribel' table, made of solid elm wood, is an absolute highlight. Inspired by the mountain landscapes of the French Alps, Perriand decided to build her own chalet there, where she was commissioned by Peter Lindsay to design a hotel. In matching style, the two oak stools, designed in 1938, are also on offer for 2,200 - 2,800 € each. These models were also used in the chalet built in 1960-61. The French Design chapter is completed with objects by Mathieu Mategot (two serving trolleys, estimate 2,500 - 3,000 €), Eileen Gray (day bed, SP 1,600 - 2,200 €), Roger Capron (sofa table, SP 1,500 - 2,000 €) and Jean Prouvé (folding chair, SP 1,500 - 2,000 €), among many others.

Although most of the highlights of this auction come from the European area, it is also worth paying attention to the US-American design. A real eye-catcher, the '670' lounge chair by Charles and Ray Eames, was produced in a very unusual version with pink leather by the Milanese company ICF Cadsana. The chair, with matching ottoman in the same color, is reasonably priced at 3,800 - 4,200 €. Still from very early Herman Miller production, on the other hand, is the classic 'ESU 200’ shelf; an iconic design by Eames realistically priced at 4,500 - 5,500 €. Also on offer are other well-known pieces of furniture by the designer couple, produced by Herman Miller and Vitra Design. In addition, some pieces of their design colleague Warren Platner are available for purchase: Armchairs and side tables made of chrome-plated metal rods are still highly sought-after pieces from the Knoll International repertoire; estimated prices range between 1,800 and 900 €

Eye-catchers from the Netherlands and more; a small selection of neon light objects by the Dutch artists Aldo van Nieuwelaar and Jan van Munster and their New Zealand colleague Bill Culbert. The boundaries between art and utilitarian object are fluid at estimated prices ranging from 700 to 2,000 €.

All lots will be on display during the preview at our premises from October 5 to 10.