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"The object of art is not to reproduce reality, but to create a reality of the same intensity."
—Alberto GiacomettiAlberto Giacometti persists as one of the great contributors to the development of modern sculpture. He is best remembered for his elongated bronze figures, which continue to spark dialogues on portraiture and spatiality. Before dedicating himself to full renderings of the human figure though, Giacometti enjoyed a productive tenure as a designer, creating expressive objects of utilitarian use. He designed the present lot, along with several other domestic accessories and furnishings, in partnership with acclaimed French interior designer Jean-Michel Frank.
The present model wall light as seen in Jean-Michel Frank’s boutique in Paris, circa 1935.
A fixture amongst the Surrealists, Giacometti drew upon the leitmotifs of the movement, employing fragmentation and iconography in his work. The present lot renders the eponymous fist holding a sconce in the precarious grasp of its finger tips. Fragmented hands were indeed a beloved and enduring emblem of the Surrealists and their successors, appearing in Jean Cocteau’s La Belle et la Bête and Maya Deren’s Meshes of the Afternoon.
Left: Still from Jean Cocteau’s La Belle et la Bête (1946). Right: Still from Maya Deren’s Meshes of the Afternoon (1943).
The present model wall lights were designed in 1931 and Giacometti would return to them in the following years, eventually developing a less stylized version of the template. Pairs of these later wall lights were employed to furnish important interiors of the age, most notably including Nelson Rockefeller’s apartment at 810 Fifth Avenue, New York. A mutually beneficial collaboration, Frank aspired to create volumes that embodied the “luxury of nothing.” Characteristically Frank interiors were marked by their decorous tranquility, furnished with only the most necessary works of design.Provenance
Acquired by the present owner in 2019
Literature
Charles Juliet, Giacometti, New York, 1986, p. 33 for a similar example
Léopold Diego Sanchez, Jean-Michel Frank, Adolphe Chanaux, Paris, 1997, p. 248
Véronique Wiesinger, Giacometti: La figure au défi, Paris, 2007, p. 43 for a similar example
Pierre-Emmanuel Martin-Vivier, Jean-Michel Frank: The Strange and Subtle Luxury of the Parisian Haute-Monde in the Art Deco Period, New York, 2012, pp. 233, 367Catalogue Essay
The present lot is registered by the Fondation Alberto and Annette Giacometti in the online Alberto Giacometti Database (AGD) under the numbers AGD 4369 and AGD 4370.
27
Pair of rare "Main Tenant une Coupe" wall lights
circa 1931
Painted plaster, painted metal.
Left fist: 8 x 5 7/8 x 11 1/2 in. (20.3 x 14.9 x 29.2 cm)
Right fist: 8 1/2 x 6 x 11 in. (21.6 x 15.2 x 27.9 cm)
Reverse of one metal wall mount impressed MADE IN FRANCE. Together with a certificate of authenticity from the Comité Giacometti.
Estimate
$200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $617,400
Benjamin Green
Associate Specialist
Associate Head of Sale
bgreen@phillips.com
+1 917 207 9090
Design
New York Auction 7 June 2022
1
Georges Jouve
Large "Cylindre" vase
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $32,760
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2
Pierre Chapo
Table, model no. T21 D, and four benches, model no. S38
Estimate $7,000 - 9,000
Sold for $22,680
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3
Josef Frank
"Flora" cabinet, model no. 852
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $138,600
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4
Jean Prouvé
Set of six "Semi-metal" chairs, model no. 305
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $75,600
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5
Georges Jouve
Pair of planters
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
Sold for $6,930
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6
Georges Jouve
"Cylindre" vase
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $5,040
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7
Georges Jouve
"Boule" vase and two bottles
Estimate $18,000 - 24,000
Sold for $18,900
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8
Georges Jouve
Pair of wall lights
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $37,800
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9
Georges Jouve
"Boule" vase
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $20,160
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10
André Borderie
Panel
Estimate $7,000 - 10,000
Sold for $5,670
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11
Jean Prouvé
"Antony" chair, model no. 356
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $44,100
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12
Alexandre Noll
Table lamp
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $56,700
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13
Georges Jouve
"Cylindre" vase
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $9,450
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14
Georges Jouve
"Cylindre" vase
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $16,380
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15
Georges Jouve
"Cylindre" vase
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $5,040
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16
Jean Prouvé
Set of four "Tout bois” chairs
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $32,760
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17
Jean Prouvé
Sun shutter, designed for schools in Cameroon
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $13,860
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18
Georges Jouve
Chalice
Estimate $6,000 - 8,000
Sold for $11,340
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19
Jean Prouvé
Sun shutter, designed for schools in Cameroon
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $17,640
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20
Jean Prouvé
Set of six "Semi-metal" chairs, model no. 305
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $52,920
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21
Jean Prouvé
Cabinet, model no. 152
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $94,500
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22
Georges Jouve
"Boule" vase
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $8,190
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23
Georges Jouve
"Boule" vase
Estimate $18,000 - 24,000
Sold for $73,080
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24
Jean Prouvé
Pair of "Semi-metal" chairs, model no. 305
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $34,020
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25
Jacques Adnet and Jacques Lenoble
Coffee table
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $16,380
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26
Jean Besnard
Low bowl
Estimate $1,000 - 1,500
Sold for $4,410
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27
Alberto Giacometti
Pair of rare "Main Tenant une Coupe" wall lights
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $617,400
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28
Jean Besnard
Table lamp
Estimate $6,000 - 8,000
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29
Raymond Delamarre
"La Tentation"
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $32,760
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30
Jean Besnard
Vase
Estimate $3,000 - 5,000
Sold for $8,190
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31
Maison Jansen
Side table
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $5,040
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32
Attributed to Joseph Urban
Pair of monumental candle holders, from the Mary and Joseph Urban residence, Yonkers
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $7,560
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33
Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Bed, model no. 894b NR
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
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34
Gustav Gurschner
Two vases
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $10,080
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35
François-Xavier Lalanne
"Mouton de Pierre"
Estimate $300,000 - 500,000
Sold for $529,200
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36
Gustave Miklos and François Louis Schmied
"La Rivière Enchantée," unique paneled wall composition
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
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37
Jean Besnard
Vase
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
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38
Jean Besnard
Vase and footed bowl
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
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39
Jean Besnard
Large bowl
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $5,040
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40
Ron Arad
"2RNot" chair
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $25,200
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41
Hervé van der Straeten
"Volubile" ceiling light, model no. 306
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $40,320
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42
Hervé van der Straeten
"Anneau" console
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
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43
Ron Arad
Monumental and unique "Blown Out Of Proportion (B.O.O.P.)" vase
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $40,320
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44
Shiro Kuramata
"Miss Blanche" chair
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
Sold for $516,600
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45
Joris Laarman
"Bone" chair
Estimate $500,000 - 700,000
Sold for $630,000
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46
Jun Kaneko
"Untitled" Dango form
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $24,570
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47
Giovanni Ferrabini
Rare console table
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
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48
Betty Woodman
"Twisted Handle Vase with Shadow"
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $17,640
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49
Ruth Duckworth
"Untitled"
Estimate $2,000 - 3,000
Sold for $3,780
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50
Ruth Duckworth
"Untitled"
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $4,032
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51
Gio Ponti
Wall-mounted chest of drawers, designed for the Hotel Royal, Naples
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $75,600
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52
Gio Ponti
"Diamond" flatware service for 24
Estimate $18,000 - 24,000
Sold for $88,200
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53
Gio Ponti
Side table with extendable leaves, from the "Domus Nova" series
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $8,190
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54
Jean Puiforcat
Rare table clock
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
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55
Gabriella Crespi
“2000” extendable coffee table, from the "Plurimi" series
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $75,600
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56
Corrado Corradi Dell'Acqua
Pair of "Montecarlo" side tables, model no. T 12
Estimate $2,000 - 3,000
Sold for $3,276
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57
Gio Ponti
Dressing table, designed for the Hotel Royal, Naples
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
Sold for $15,120
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58
Gio Ponti
Pair of wall-mounted shelves
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
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59
Ico Parisi
Console table, model no. 1109
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $35,280
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60
Doyle Lane
Weed pot
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
Sold for $23,940
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61
Doyle Lane
Weed pot
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $9,450
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62
Doyle Lane
Weed pot
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
Sold for $5,040
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63
Doyle Lane
Weed pot
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $32,760
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64
George Nakashima
Pair of "Conoid" lounge chairs
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $18,900
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65
George Nakashima
"Greenrock" console table
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $30,240
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66
George Nakashima
"Conoid" platform bed and "Conoid" headboard with storage
Estimate $18,000 - 24,000
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67
Harry Bertoia
Rare "Sonambient" sounding sculpture
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $75,600
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68
Harry Bertoia
Suspended gong
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
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69
Harry Bertoia
"Sonambient" sounding sculpture
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $21,420
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70
Harry Bertoia
Suspended gong
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $16,380
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71
Harry Bertoia
"Sonambient" sounding sculpture
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
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72
Harry Bertoia
Suspended gong
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $25,200
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73
Harry Bertoia
"Sonambient" sounding sculpture
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $10,710
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74
Harry Bertoia
"Singing bars"
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $3,780
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