David Hockney, Celia Reading, 1980. Editions, Photographs and Design.
David Hockney and Yoshitomo Nara
Cary Leibowitz, Worldwide Co-Head of Editions
This very unassuming print radiates some sort of closeness between the artist and sitter.
This is not a formal pose in a classical setting. It’s an artist’s pleading for the tenth time for his friend to sit still and let him draw.
I love the hat—don’t take it off!
Ok — but I have a lot to do so I’ll keep doing it while you draw.
I am sure any one who would receive this lithograph as a gift would feel it’s a very sentimental gift about intimacy and patience.
Yoshitomo Nara, Top of the World, 2002. Editions, Photographs and Design.
Remember when we were young and silly and maybe dangerous and or at least confident and brave or too excited to be scared or just didn’t know the word failure yet?
Peter Doig
Peter Doig, Holy Mountain, from Zermatt, 2022. Editions, Photographs and Design.
Nick Wilson, Head of Editions, Photographs and Design
Doig was inspired to create a series of paintings by a stay in Zermatt after spending time in the area. The paintings were created later, from memory, encapsulating the feelings and sensations of being in the perilous stunning beauty of the fairy tale village nestled in the shadow of the imposing Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps. He later recreated these paintings as editioned prints (such as the present example), with a nod back to the original ski posters that first inspired the style of this series. Although I wouldn’t recommend taking the figure’s minimalist approach to clothing at this time of year, this would surely be an ideal Christmas gift for anyone who loves skiing, or the feeling of being in the middle of these majestic mountains.
Chris Smith
Chris Smith, Ali and The Beatles, 1964. Editions, Photographs and Design.
Christopher Mahoney, Senior International Specialist, Photographs
I can’t think of a better holiday gift than the gorgeous print of Chris Smith’s Ali and the Beatles in Phillips’ upcoming auction of Editions, Photographs and Design in Hong Kong. After all, it features five of the most famous personalities of the 20th century in one image! Yes, it is clearly a photograph staged for publicity while Ali was training for his 1964 fight with Sonny Liston. And, yes, it is a little silly. Despite this, there is a lot to love about this photograph. Look at Ali’s face, so full of inspired braggadocio, with the lean power of his body so fully on display. Now look at George, Ringo, John, and Paul, who look less knocked-out than blissfully asleep or, perhaps, harmonizing in song. At the time this photograph was taken, Ali was the best fighter in the world, and the Beatles were the best songwriters. Each represents a level of perfection in their respective fields of endeavor. The lighthearted mood of the picture, and the sense of fun it encapsulates, makes it perfect for the holiday season. And having it on your wall would bring joy all year round.
Steven Klein
Steven Klein, Kate Moss Study #7, 2011. Editions, Photographs and Design.
Clare Lamport, Head of Sale, Associate Specialist, Photographs
My pick is the perfect offbeat photograph with underlying dark humor that you would want to receive as a holiday gift this year. A master storyteller, Steven Klein recasts supermodel Kate Moss here as a beguiling creature, the epitome of gothic elegance and unearthly beauty. This spellbinding portrait, which graced the March 2012 cover feature of W magazine, epitomizes Klein’s creative vision that subverts our notions of glamour, fame, and beauty. He explains this shoot: “The idea for Kate Moss was based on light over dark and good over evil, which everything has aspects of. It was also based on the idea of how the public perceives Kate Moss. We decided to explore the idea of Good Kate, Bad Kate … We played one song on repeat for the two long nights that we shot — Linda Jones’s ‘Hypnotize’.” This work celebrates the enduring collaboration between these two fashion legends – Klein first started photographing Moss in 1990 when she was 16 years old. As a testament to his admiration, Klein surprises us with a powerful new perspective on the instantly recognizable face.
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld and Hans Wegner
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, 'Zig-Zag' chair, designed 1932, produced circa 1967. Editions, Photographs and Design.
Sofia Sayn-Wittgenstein, Head of Department, Design and Madalena Horta E Costa, Specialist, Design
For a perfect Christmas gift that combines style, history, and functionality, look no further than the present ‘Zig-Zag’ chair designed by the renowned Dutch architect Gerrit Thomas Rietveld. This iconic piece of furniture makes not only a striking addition to any home or art collection but also a conversation starter that immortalizes a pivotal moment in 20th-century European design.
Celebrated for its unique geometric form, the ‘Zig-Zag’ chair showcases Rietveld's commitment to simplicity and innovative yet functional construction. Crafted from beautifully exposed elmwood, this chair encapsulates Rietveld's vision of reducing furniture to its most essential elements. Its four rectangular planes are carefully aligned to mimic the natural posture of the human body, making it both aesthetically pleasing as well as comfortable. The surface details, such as the decorative bolts and dovetail joints, highlight its thoughtful craftsmanship, ensuring a chair that is both beautiful and durable.
Owning a ‘Zig-Zag’ chair means having a piece of history, as it is rooted in the legacy of Rietveld's work, which influenced modernism across Europe. Its cantilevered design marked a significant departure from traditional chairs of the day, demonstrating Rietveld's forward-thinking approach to furniture design. A quintessential example of pure de Stijl aesthetic, the present chair also bears a remarkable provenance, passed down from Gerrit Rietveld’s own son, Wim.
Hans J. Wegner, 'China' armchair, model no. 4283, designed 1944, produced 1956. Editions, Photographs and Design.
This Christmas, elevate the festive atmosphere of the home with a touch of Danish hygge and give the gift of Hans Wegner’s iconic ‘China’ chair. A piece that honors China’s rich history of craftsmanship while embodying the ideals of Danish modernism, the China chair is an inspired addition to any enthusiast’s collection.
One of the four models in the Danish master’s renowned ‘China’ chair series, the piece is inspired by an 18th-century Chinese imperial chair that Wegner first encountered in a book he was studying in Aarhus library. While Wegner’s Danish Modern design contemporaries in Copenhagen had already looked to historic Chinese examples as sources of inspiration for elevating their own mastery of fine craftsmanship, Wegner’s approach held a distinctive brilliance. In the ‘China’ chair, Wegner distilled the traditional Chinese design into a simplified, essentialized modernist design, preserving the elegance of the original form without compromising its functional integrity.
Manufactured by Fritz Hansen and receiving widespread praise at the 1944 Spring Exhibition of the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen, this early model of ‘China’ chair quickly consolidated its place as a classic in Denmark’s most celebrated furniture designer's remarkable body of work. Its rounded top rail with continuous arms and minimalist strip-form back support are both decorative and structurally integral, exemplifying Wegner’s expertise in organic functionalist design.
Celebrate the holidays with the ‘China’ chair, a brilliant example of the convergence between Eastern cultural influence and Western design innovation. Its effortless warmth and inviting craftsmanship make it a striking centerpiece in any modern space or an equally graceful, understated presence beneath the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree. A must-have for admirers of 20th-century design, this piece represents Danish Modern at its finest.
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