André Arbus - Design London Wednesday, September 25, 2013 | Phillips

Design

London 26 September 2013

  • Provenance

    Collection of the artist, Paris
    Thence by descent
    Acquired from the above, 1990s

  • Literature

    Charles Oulmont, 'Les Tables Servies et quelques modèles de la haute couture Parisienne,' Art et Industrie (Paris), July, 1946, illustrated p. 15 in a drawing
    Waldemar George, André Arbus, Paris, 1948, illustrated pl. 20 for the table exhibited at the 1946 salon
    'Art et Industrie présente le 5e Salon des Arts de la table au musée des Arts Décoratifs', Art et Industrie, (Paris), June, 1950, illustrated p. 45
    Yvonne Brunhammer, André Arbus, Architecte: décorateur des années 40, Paris, 1996, illustrated p. 263 for the table exhibited at the 1950 salon

  • Catalogue Essay

    The present table was created in 1946 for the ‘Salon des arts de la table’, an exhibition organized by Art et Industrie magazine and its influential editor-in-chief, Waldemar George. Held at the Galerie Pierre Maurs on the Avenue Martignon in Paris, the salon had as its theme 'literary tables’, as imagined and created by the most well regarded designers and luxury good purveyors of late 1940s Paris, such as Baccarat, Jean Royère and Jansen. In the magazine’s coverage of the event models in fashionable evening dresses by designers like Elsa Schiaparelli and Carven were interspersed among these stylish vignettes. André Arbus dedicated his exhibit to Jean Giraudoux, the famous French writer who died in 1944. Other themes included 'Un Diner chez la Comtesse de Castiglione’ and ‘Comédie Italienne’. Described as a ‘dressoir’ (which translates to china closet) the table was set with a swagged tablecloth and Sèvres porcelain specially produced for the event. The table re-appeared as a dining table at the 1950 ‘Salon des arts de la table’, set with Noël lace and Arbus-designed crystal produced by Véronèse.

PROPERTY OF A EUROPEAN COLLECTOR

56

André Arbus

Unique table

1946
Mahogany, leather, bronze.
92 x 190.1 x 84.6 cm (36 1/4 x 74 7/8 x 33 1/4 in.)
Together with a copy of the certificate of authenticity from Madeleine Thorel-Arbus.

Estimate
£30,000 - 40,000 ♠

Sold for £37,500

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Design

London 26 September 2013