DESIGN and THE ARCHITECT at PHILLIPS LONDON
- Apr, 27 2014
- By fabricebana
- Architecture, Artists, Auctions, Design, Designers, London Town
- 2 comments
If it is significant relics from the 20th century (and some of the 19th century) you are seeking, you will be delighted to hear that London is currently blessed by three exhibitions and forthcoming sales by two prominent auction houses.
Today’s feature will look at the first two sales A-Gent of Style saw this week. Advance warning: not only are there in this feature incredibly beautiful and exceptional objets that discerning collectors will undoubtedly snap (Max Ingrand’s mirror in big diamond-shaped mirrored and cut glass is a sight to behold) but also a Polar Bear on the loose.
Last Wednesday saw the preview of two important sales coming up next Tuesday, April 29, at Phillips. A-Gent of Style attended the evening drinks reception at Howick Place’s vast headquarters gathering significant and rare pieces never seen together before. Ranging from furniture, drawings, buildings, models, lighting and equipment from the 19th, 20th and 21st century, the pieces cover the Arts & Crafts, Wiener Werkstätte, Art Deco, Modernist and Bauhaus design periods.
Not too dissimilar to Artcurial’s Design of the 20th C sale last May in Paris (reviewed here), A-Gent of Style was delighted to be re-acquainted with some of his favourite designers and ensembliers such as Royère, Ruhlmann, Adnet, Dupré-Lafont, Giacometti, Ponti, Ingrand, Perriand, Jeanneret, Prouvé, Henningsen, Fontana Arte, Borsani, Lelii to name but a few amongst the vast selection of eminent game-players of last century’s design scene. An absolute treat for A-Gent of Style, self-proclaimed 20th century design junkie.
This Design sale comprises 214 lots. Jean Royère’s important and unique ‘Tour Eiffel’ extendable dining table circa 1963 has the highest estimate at £300,000 – 400,000, followed by Diego Giacometti’s ‘Carcasse’ low table ‘petit modèle à la chauve-souris’ circa 1979, estimated at £200,000 – 300,000.
And joy of joy, there is an appearance of a Jean Royère ‘Ours Polaire’ sofa, circa 1952, estimated at £200,000 – 300,000 which will be a great addition to our ever-growing Polar Bear retrospective.
You can view the full catalogue here.
The second sale, ‘The Architect’, was created and curated by American starchitect Lee Mindel (who gave a brilliant talk at the beginning of the evening about his curation), and brings together some of the best designs by architectural stars from the past two centuries in 103 lots. It will celebrate the contributions architects have made to our environment through the furniture, objects, and equipment they’ve invented in response to the buildings they’ve conceived.
Carlo Mollino’s unique and monumental ceiling light, designed for the Casa Orengo, Turin, 1949 is estimated at £220,000 – 280,000 and Jean Prouvé’s demountable entry lodge, from Ferembal, Nancy, circa 1943-1944, has a low estimate of £180,000 – 240,000.
You can view the full catalogue here.
Here are A-Gent of Style‘s snapshots regrouping both sales. Viewing is still in full swing at Howick Place, SW1, today 12pm-6pm and then up until Tuesday 10am-6pm. Both auctions, which will be straight after each other, will start at 2pm. Happy bidding!
WHAT A ROCKING HORSE!
- Nov, 07 2013
- By fabricebana
- Artists, Auctions, Designers, London Town
- No comments
“The horses are ravishing! Giving should be gorgeous; you should look forward to it”
– Joanna Lumley – 
Twelve celebrities, mostly British, of the film, fashion and art worlds have been enlisted by Stars Rocking to design their own rocking horses which will be auctioned to raise awareness and funds for CHIVA Africa, a charity working in South Africa to combat the spread of the AIDS and HIV epidemic in infants, children and teenagers.
Hand-crafted by famous rocking horse makers Stevenson Brothers, each horse has been customised with glorious designs and themes to make them unique:
Judi Dench transformed hers into an ethereal unicorn named SMOW (after her grandson Simon Michael Oak Williams), Joanna Lumley’s was inspired by the fabulous outfits worn by her Ab Fab character Patsy, while Amanda Wakeley’s became a safari Zebra. Other celebrities who have designed a rocking horse include Maureen Lipman, Kelly Hoppen, Stephen Webster, Nicky Clarke,
Julien Macdonald, Melissa Odabash and Nick Walker.
The ravishing rocking horses, all signed by their artists, will be exhibited
at Sotheby’s Kiddell Gallery from 11-14 November 2013, after which they will be auctioned at an invitation-only event on November 14th with all proceeds going directly towards CHIVA Africa.
For more information please contact starsrocking@chiva-africa.org
or call 0208 2099100.
So, don’t say neigh, say yeah!
Dame Judi Dench – Thespian
Nicky Clarke & Kelly Simpkin – Hair Stylists
Patsy Sweetie Dahling Stone – Joanna Lumley Impersonator
Stephen Webster – Jewellery Designer
Amanda Wakeley – Fashion Designer
Kimberley Kundle – Artist
Maureen Lipman – Actress
Rozanne Bell -Painter
Lisa Whatmough – Founder of Squint
Julien Macdonald & Melissa Odabash – Fashion Designers
Kelly Hoppen – Interior Designer
Nick Walker – Street Artist
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