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Provenance
Private collection, London
Exhibited
Liberty, London, 1957
Literature
'Mobili a Göteborg', Domus, no. 307, June 1955, p. 47 for a similar example
Marco Romanelli, ed., Gio Ponti: A World, exh. cat., Design Museum, London, 2002, p. 68 for a similar example
Ugo La Pietra, ed., Gio Ponti: L’arte si innamora dell’industria, New York, 2009, p. 196, figs. 413-15 for a similar example
Laura Falconi, ed., Gio Ponti: Interiors, Objects, Drawings, 1920-1976, Milan, 2010, p. 166 for a similar exampleCatalogue Essay
Gio Ponti e il tavolino da caffè
Among the most prolific talents to grace twentieth-century design, Gio Ponti defied categorisation. Though trained as an architect, he made major contributions to the decorative arts, designing in such disparate materials as ceramics, glass, wood, and metals. A gale force of interdisciplinary creativity, Ponti embraced new materials like plastic and aluminium but employed traditional materials such as marble and wood in original, unconventional ways. In the industrial realm, he designed buildings, cars, machinery, and appliances (notably the La Cornuta espresso machine for La Pavoni) and founded the ADI (Industrial Designer Association). Among the most special works by Gio Ponti, however, are those that he made in collaboration with master craftsmen such as the cabinetmaker Giordano Chiesa, who executed the following three lots.
A 1950 Domus article described maestro Chiesa as “a man of great experience and infinite resources” who brought “extreme perfectionism and passionate care” to his work (no. 252, p. 29). Indeed, his talent is evident in the supreme craftsmanship of these three tables. Although, fine fabrication was not the ultimate objective for Ponti. As Marco Romanelli wrote, “Gio Ponti learned from craftsmen, from all craftsmen, and then, just as quickly, would forget and surprise again, free to break down those centuries-old barriers that ‘know-how’ so often erects.” (Gio Ponti: A World, p. 39)
Lot 5, designed in 1937, shows the classical, yet playful design vocabulary of Ponti’s earlier furniture. The following in chronological order is lot 6, a set of three tables from 1948. It takes a traditional material, marble, and gives it an unconventional, modern form, breaking it up into sections that can function together as a single table, or separately as end tables. It was indicative of a larger trend towards multi – purpose furniture – for example, a 1955 Domus article published the same modular tables across from Osvaldo Borsani’s folding sofa for Tecno. Continuing with the theme of convertible furniture, Ponti designed lot 7 with folding wings. The adaptable design is luxurious in its use of rich, burled veneers, yet playful and unconventional, inviting interaction with the user. As Ponti wrote, “Some enjoyment is not to be excluded in furnishings; it is an ancient tradition.”Artist Bio
Gio Ponti
Italian • 1891 - 1979
Among the most prolific talents to grace twentieth-century design, Gio Ponti defied categorization. Though trained as an architect, he made major contributions to the decorative arts, designing in such disparate materials as ceramics, glass, wood and metal. A gale force of interdisciplinary creativity, Ponti embraced new materials like plastic and aluminum but employed traditional materials such as marble and wood in original, unconventional ways.
In the industrial realm, he designed buildings, cars, machinery and appliances — notably, the La Cornuta espresso machine for La Pavoni — and founded the ADI (Industrial Designer Association). Among the most special works by Gio Ponti are those that he made in collaboration with master craftsmen such as the cabinetmaker Giordano Chiesa, the illustrator Piero Fornasetti and the enamellist Paolo de Poli.
7
Unique and important coffee table
circa 1957
Walnut, burr walnut-veneered wood, brass.
37.3 x 150 x 122 cm (14 5/8 x 59 x 48 in.) fully extended
Executed by Giordano Chiesa, Milan, Italy. Together with a certificate of authenticity from the Gio Ponti Archives.
Estimate
£30,000 - 50,000
sold for £86,500
Madalena Horta e Costa
Head of Sale
+44 20 7318 4019
Modern Masters: Design Evening Sale
London Auction 27 April 2016
1
Gio Ponti
Rare 'Mariposa' armchair, model no. 851, from a private villa, Liguria
Estimate £12,000 - 18,000
Sold for £31,250
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
2
Gio Ponti and Piero Fornasetti
Unique 'Arlecchino' wardrobe
Estimate £80,000 - 120,000
Sold for £98,500
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3
Angelo Lelii
Rare ceiling light, model no. 12712
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £21,250
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
4
Angelo Lelii
Rare adjustable standard lamp, model no. 12300
Estimate £14,000 - 18,000
Sold for £20,000
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
5
Gio Ponti
Important coffee table
Estimate £30,000 - 50,000
Sold for £50,000
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
6
Gio Ponti
Rare set of three modular coffee tables
Estimate £30,000 - 50,000
Sold for £88,900
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
7
Gio Ponti
Unique and important coffee table
Estimate £30,000 - 50,000
Sold for £86,500
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
8
Pietro Chiesa
Rare ceiling light
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
9
Eileen Gray
Important folding 'Brick' screen
Estimate £1,200,000 - 1,800,000 ‡
Sold for £1,482,500
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10
Maurice Marinot
Chalice
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000
Sold for £10,000
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11
Eckart Muthesius
Important sideboard, designed for the Maharaja of Indore's Banquet Hall, Manik Bagh (Garden of Rubies) Palace, Indore
Estimate £300,000 - 500,000
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12
Ivan Da Silva Bruhns
Unique and important carpet, designed for the Maharaja of Indore's bedroom, Manik Bagh (Garden of Rubies) Palace, Indore
Estimate £400,000 - 500,000
Sold for £434,500
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
13
Jean-Michel Frank
Table lamp
Estimate £30,000 - 40,000
Sold for £100,900
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A way to share and manage lots.
14
Carlo Scarpa
Rare mirror, model no. 77
Estimate £12,000 - 18,000
Sold for £23,750
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15
Marcel Coard
Important Canapé Gondole
Estimate £200,000 - 300,000
Sold for £974,500
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A way to share and manage lots.
16
Palle Suenson
Pair of large wall lights, designed for the canteen, Aarhus Oil Factory A/S
Estimate £12,000 - 15,000
Sold for £15,000
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A way to share and manage lots.
17
Alberto Giacometti
Chess set
Estimate £40,000 - 60,000
Sold for £50,000
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A way to share and manage lots.
18
Diego Giacometti
'Feuilles' table
Estimate £70,000 - 90,000
Sold for £110,500
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19
Gio Ponti
Rare bench, designed for the Antica Quadreria, Contini Bonacossi Palace, Florence
Estimate £35,000 - 45,000
Sold for £158,500
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20
Gio Ponti
Early ceiling light
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £22,500
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21
Giuseppe Terragni
Bedroom, designed for Casa Stecchini, Como
Estimate £50,000 - 70,000 Ω
Sold for £62,500
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22
Serge Mouille
'Grand Totem' standard lamp
Estimate £60,000 - 80,000 Ω
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
23
René Herbst
Unique desk, from the architect’s residence, Rue de Chateaubriand, Paris
Estimate £20,000 - 30,000 Ω
Sold for £20,000
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
24
Martin Szekely
'M.L.' table with black top
Estimate £50,000 - 70,000 Ω
Create your first list.
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25
Max Ingrand
Important illuminated mirror, model no. 2044
Estimate £20,000 - 30,000
Sold for £25,000
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A way to share and manage lots.
26
Charlotte Perriand
'Tunisie' bookcase, designed for the student rooms of La Maison de la Tunisie, Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris
Estimate £70,000 - 90,000 ‡
Sold for £98,500
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
27
Wendell Castle
Unique 'Sirocco' chair
Estimate £60,000 - 80,000 Ω
Sold for £64,900
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A way to share and manage lots.
28
Pierre Jeanneret
Illuminated reading table, model no. PJ-TAT-10-B, designed for the Assembly and the University Library, Chandigarh
Estimate £100,000 - 150,000
Sold for £122,500
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
29
Pierre Jeanneret
Rare 'Swinging seat' armchair, model no. PJ-SI-07-B
Estimate £20,000 - 30,000 †
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
30
Jean Prouvé
Rare façade porthole panel, designed for the Bouqueval school, Bouqueval
Estimate £80,000 - 120,000
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31
Tapio Wirkkala
Rare 'Marsalkansauva' (Mashal’s Baton) art object, model no. 3590 TW
Estimate £10,000 - 12,000
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
32
Tapio Wirkkala
Rare 'Bambu' (Bamboo) vase, model no. 3537 TW
Estimate £7,000 - 10,000
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
33
Zaha Hadid
Bench
Estimate £50,000 - 70,000
Sold for £98,500
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
34
Joris Laarman
Important 'Bone' chair
Estimate £200,000 - 300,000
Sold for £344,500
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
35
Studio Job - Job Smeets and Nynke Tynagel
'Taj Mahal' table
Estimate £30,000 - 50,000
Sold for £56,250
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36
Edward William Godwin
Side table
Estimate £60,000 - 80,000
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
37
Charles Robert Ashbee
Etagère
Estimate £30,000 - 40,000
Sold for £37,500
Create your first list.
A way to share and manage lots.
38
Märta Måås-Fjetterström
'Efsingen' rug
Estimate £20,000 - 30,000
Sold for £43,750
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A way to share and manage lots.
39
Finn Juhl
Unique and important extendable dining table, model no. FJ 44, designed for the 'Copenhagen Cabinetmakers' Guild' exhibition
Estimate £100,000 - 150,000
Sold for £98,500
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A way to share and manage lots.
40
Paavo Tynell
Rare table lamp, model no. 9212B
Estimate £8,000 - 10,000
Sold for £9,375
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A way to share and manage lots.
41
Vilhelm Lauritzen
Rare and important armchair, from the Royal Suite, Radiohuset (National Broadcasting House), Copenhagen
Estimate £40,000 - 60,000
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42
Peder Moos
Side table
Estimate £25,000 - 35,000
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A way to share and manage lots.