Provenance
Alba Theatre, Alba, 1950s
Acquired from the above by the present owner
Catalogue Essay
The present lot comprised part of the ceiling decoration produced by Venini for the Alba Theatre. The drops with metal rods were hung from the atrium ceiling as illustrated in the accompanying ceiling plan, whilst the examples of the drops with chains hung in the auditorium of the theatre.

166

Venini

Group of eight ceiling droplets, designed for the Alba Theatre, Alba

1950s
Iridescent coloured glass, brass.
Largest: 38.5 cm (15 1/8 in.) drop, 12.5 cm (4 7/8 in.) diameter
Produced by Venini, Murano, Italy.

Estimate
£4,000 - 6,000

Sold for £8,750

Contact Specialist
Madalena Horta e Costa
Head of Sale
+44 20 7318 4019

Important Design

London Auction 26 April 2018

1
Gio Ponti
Rare illuminated sideboard
Estimate £35,000 - 55,000
Sold for £131,250
2
Carlo Scarpa
Rare mirror, model no. 77
Estimate £12,000 - 18,000
Sold for £52,500
3
Gio Ponti and Emilio Lancia
Rare daybed
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £46,250
4
Gino Sarfatti
Ceiling light, model no. 2027
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
5
Gio Ponti
Two hand mirrors
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
6
Gio Ponti
Occasional table and free-standing shelving unit, designed for Count Cantoni-Marca, Lombardy
Estimate £18,000 - 24,000
Sold for £22,500
7
Gio Ponti
Important and rare low table, designed for the Contini Bonacossi residence, Quadreria Moderna, Villa Vittoria, Florence
Estimate £180,000 - 240,000
Sold for £261,000
8
Carlo Scarpa
Chandelier, model no. 207
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £20,000
9
Ico Parisi
Set of fourteen dining chairs
Estimate £12,000 - 18,000
Sold for £21,250
10
Pietro Chiesa
Ceiling light
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £27,500
11
Paolo Buffa
Important and rare dining table
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000
Sold for £45,000
12
Angelo Lelii
Important and rare ceiling light, model no. 12697
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £27,500
13
Ico Parisi
Pair of rare armchairs
Estimate £7,000 - 9,000
Sold for £27,500
14
Ico Parisi
Occasional table
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £12,500
15
Pietro Chiesa
Two lidded boxes
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000
Sold for £5,000
16
Osvaldo Borsani
Side table
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £8,125
17
Gio Ponti
Rare table lamp
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £56,250
18
Piero Fornasetti
'Fiori e Cammei' mirror
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
19
Gio Ponti and Piero Fornasetti
Unique 'Fiori e Cammei' wardrobe
Estimate £30,000 - 50,000
Sold for £75,000
20
Stilnovo
Pair of rare adjustable wall lights, model no. B. 4917
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £16,250
21
Pietro Chiesa
Picture frame and cigarette box, model no. 1132
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000
Sold for £6,250
22
Paolo Buffa
Rare illuminated drinks cabinet
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000
Sold for £25,000
23
Fontana Arte
Flower-holder
Estimate £1,800 - 2,400
24
Luigi Caccia Dominioni
'Caccia' flatware setting for twelve
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £12,500
25
Studio B.B.P.R.
Chest of drawers, designed for the apartment of Count Luigi Premoli, Milan
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000
Sold for £30,000
26
Giorgio Casali
Twenty photographs of the Torre Velasca, Milan
Estimate £2,500 - 3,500
Sold for £4,750
27
Gio Ponti
Swivel chair, model no. 1938, designed for the Montecatini S.A. offices, Milan
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000
Sold for £3,000
28
László Moholy-Nagy
Prototype desk set
Estimate £60,000 - 80,000 ‡
Sold for £75,000
29
Line Vautrin
'Florence' mirror
Estimate £50,000 - 70,000
Sold for £56,250
30
Diego Giacometti
Pair of 'Têtes de Lionnes' armchairs, second version
Estimate £250,000 - 350,000
Sold for £429,000
31
Alberto Giacometti
‘Tête de femme’ table lamp
Estimate £120,000 - 180,000 ‡
Sold for £125,000
32
Edward James and Norris Wakefield
Important and unique bed, designed for the Map Room, Monkton House, West Sussex
Estimate £80,000 - 100,000
33
Diego Giacometti
'Toad' table
Estimate £220,000 - 280,000 ‡
Sold for £273,000
34
Jean-Michel Frank
Unique canapé and pair of armchairs, designed for Robert Chevalier, Épinal
Estimate £80,000 - 120,000
Sold for £87,500
35
Diego Giacometti
'Berceau' low table, first version
Estimate £80,000 - 120,000 ‡
Sold for £285,000
36
Max Ingrand
Adjustable wall light and pair of ceiling lights, model no. 1849
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000
Sold for £18,750
37
Jean Royère
Pair of armchairs
Estimate £25,000 - 35,000
Sold for £40,000
38
Jean-Michel Frank
Table lamp
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £23,750
39
Louis Süe and André Mare
Tabouret
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
40
Jean-Michel Frank
Pair of low tables
Estimate £25,000 - 35,000
Sold for £60,000
41
Eugène Printz
Pair of armchairs
Estimate £28,000 - 34,000
Sold for £35,000
42
Jean Després
Important pair of vases
Estimate £25,000 - 35,000
Sold for £52,500
43
Max Ingrand
Ceiling light, model no. 1748
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £15,000
44
André Arbus
Pair of chairs, designed for the 'Jean Laborde' ocean liner
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000
Sold for £20,000
45
Jean-Michel Frank
'Croisillon' table lamp
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £21,250
46
Jean Royère
Pair of 'Boules' andirons
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £12,500
47
Jean Royère
Sofa, designed for Mademoiselle de Bellaing, Paris
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 Ω
Sold for £27,500
48
Jean Royère
Rare low table
Estimate £30,000 - 50,000
49
Jean-Michel Frank
Pair of 'Croisillon' table lamps
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £32,500
50
Katsu Hamanaka
Important and rare six-panelled screen with mythological scene
Estimate £80,000 - 150,000
Sold for £100,000
51
François-Xavier Lalanne
'Mouton'
Estimate £150,000 - 200,000
Sold for £477,000
52
Hans Coper
Pot on cylindrical foot
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 ‡♠
Sold for £27,500
53
Lucie Rie
Flaring bowl
Estimate £20,000 - 30,000 ♠
Sold for £62,500
54
Lucie Rie
Conical bowl
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000 ‡♠
Sold for £13,750
55
Lucie Rie
Footed bowl
Estimate £30,000 - 40,000 ♠
Sold for £53,750
56
Lucie Rie
Footed bowl
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ♠
Sold for £10,625
57
Hans Coper
'Sack' form with disc
Estimate £25,000 - 35,000 ♠
Sold for £137,500
58
Judy Kensley McKie
'Leopard Couch'
Estimate £120,000 - 180,000 Ω
Sold for £150,000
59
François-Xavier Lalanne
Pigeon lamp
Estimate £12,000 - 18,000
Sold for £43,750
60
Michele Oka Doner
'Coral Wave' chair
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 ‡
Sold for £27,500
61
Wendell Castle
Unique three-seater sofa
Estimate £140,000 - 180,000 Ω
Sold for £225,000
62
George Nakashima
Set of four early grass-seated chairs
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £21,250
63
Harry Bertoia
'Bush' sculpture
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 ‡
Sold for £47,500
64
Joaquim Tenreiro
Pair of armchairs
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £21,250
65
Joaquim Tenreiro
Three-seater sofa
Estimate £7,000 - 9,000
Sold for £17,500
66
Harry Bertoia
'Bush' sculpture
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 ‡
Sold for £27,500
67
Arredoluce
Pair of large wall lights
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £5,000
68
Mathieu Matégot
Pair of 'Copacabana' chairs
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £16,250
69
Charlotte Perriand
Important 'Antony' bookcase, designed for the Cité Universitaire, Antony
Estimate £75,000 - 85,000 Ω
Sold for £87,500
70
Serge Mouille
Large ‘Flamme’ wall light
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £13,750
71
Jean Prouvé
'Professor' desk, designed for the Faculté des Lettres, Lille University, Lille
Estimate £60,000 - 80,000
Sold for £75,000
72
Stilnovo
Adjustable wall light
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £5,000
73
Charlotte Perriand
Pair of tripod stools
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000
Sold for £6,250
74
Jean Prouvé
'Compas' desk
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £11,250
75
Jean Prouvé
Rare set of four chairs, model no. 4
Estimate £60,000 - 90,000
Sold for £137,500
76
Gino Sarfatti
Table lamp, model no. 584/G
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £8,125
77
Jean Prouvé
'Compas' cafeteria table, model no. 512, designed for the Cité Universitaire, Antony
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000
Sold for £18,750
78
Jean Prouvé
'Antony' chair, model no. 356
Estimate £12,000 - 18,000
Sold for £13,750
79
Pierre Jeanneret
Set of ten 'Committee' armchairs, model no. PJ-SI-30-A, designed for the High Court, the Assembly and Punjab University administrative buildings, Chandigarh
Estimate £150,000 - 250,000
Sold for £200,000
80
Jean Prouvé
'Compas' cafeteria table, model no. 512
Estimate £16,000 - 24,000
Sold for £27,500
81
Pierre Jeanneret
'Office table' desk with bookcase, model no. PJ-BU-02-A and 'Office Cane Chair', model no. PJ-SI-28-A, designed for the Secretariat and administrative buildings, Chandigarh
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000
82
Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret
Pair of 'Advocate and Press' armchairs, model no. LC/PJ-SI-41-A, designed for the High Court, Chandigarh
Estimate £40,000 - 60,000
Sold for £75,000
83
Sir Edwin Lutyens
Unique sideboard, designed for Little Thakeham, Thakeham, West Sussex
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000
Sold for £20,000
84
Kaare Klint
Pair of early 'Easy' armchairs, model no. 5313
Estimate £20,000 - 30,000
Sold for £22,500
85
Kaare Klint
Two-seater sofa, model no. 5313
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000
86
Axel Salto
Rare 'Three Deers in a Cornfield' vase
Estimate £18,000 - 24,000
Sold for £30,000
87
Märta Blomstedt
Pair of armchairs, designed for the Hotel Aulanko, Hämeenlinna, Finland
Estimate £12,000 - 15,000
Sold for £56,250
88
Oscar Nilsson
'Natura' wardrobe
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
89
Peder Moos
Table
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000
90
Frits Henningsen
Rare set of eight dining chairs, designed for a private commission, Copenhagen
Estimate £18,000 - 24,000
Sold for £27,500
91
Gianfranco Frattini
Pair of rare ceiling lights, model no. 597/S
Estimate £7,000 - 9,000
Sold for £18,750
92
Flemming Lassen
Sofa
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £30,000
93
Hans J. Wegner
Set of twelve 'The Chair' armchairs
Estimate £30,000 - 40,000
Sold for £81,250
94
Axel Einar Hjorth
‘Sandhamn’ sofa
Estimate £30,000 - 40,000
Sold for £37,500
95
Toyo Ito
'Matsumoto' table
Estimate £40,000 - 60,000
Sold for £87,500
96
Sueharu Fukami
'Sei'
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £8,750
97
Shiro Kuramata
'Glass' chair
Estimate £25,000 - 35,000 ‡
Sold for £32,500
98
Forrest Myers
Ghost
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 ‡
Sold for £18,750
99
Howard Meister
Unique 'Twilight' table
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000
Sold for £2,500
100
Ron Arad
Blo-void 1
Estimate £40,000 - 60,000
Sold for £62,500
101
Morihiro Wada
Vase
Estimate £12,000 - 16,000
102
Deborah Thomas
Unique chandelier
Estimate £7,000 - 9,000
Sold for £37,500
103
Jennifer Lee
'Pale, tilted rim, asymmetric, ridge, speckled bands' pot
Estimate £7,000 - 9,000 ♠
Sold for £16,250
104
Jennifer Lee
'Pale, granite traces' pot
Estimate £12,000 - 16,000 ♠
Sold for £16,250
105
Jennifer Lee
'Speckled, olive base, haloed granite rim' pot
Estimate £10,000 - 14,000 ♠
Sold for £22,500
106
Guy de Rougemont
Rare ‘Nuage’ table lamp
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £10,000
107
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Early 'Ratrih' standard lamp
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £5,625
108
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec
Double 'Black Light'
Estimate £18,000 - 24,000 Ω
Sold for £47,500
109
Louis Durot
'Spirale' chair
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000
Sold for £10,625
110
Danilo Silvestrin
Rare 'acrylic sphere', designed for Lothar Wolleh's penthouse, Düsseldorf
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000
Sold for £12,500
111No Reserve
Shiro Kuramata
Pair of 'Hammer House' hammers
Estimate £200 - 300 •‡
Sold for £4,000
112
Johanna Grawunder
‘Specchio d’Italia’, from the 'Street Glow' series
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £9,375
113
Shiro Kuramata
'Acrylic stool', designed for the Spiral boutique, The Axis Building, Roppongi, Tokyo
Estimate £30,000 - 50,000 Ω
Sold for £37,500
114
Shiro Kuramata
Armchair, from the 'Furniture with Drawers' series
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 Ω
Sold for £16,250
115
Shiro Kuramata
Rare set of four dining chairs, designed for the SOSEIKAN House, Takarazuka, Hyogo
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 Ω
Sold for £10,000
116
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Two vases, model nos. 628 and 632, from the 'Onde' series
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £18,750
117
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Large vase, model no. 588, from the 'Ceramiche a colaggio' series
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £6,000
118
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Lidded box, model no. 598
Estimate £1,500 - 2,500
Sold for £2,125
119
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Two vases, model nos. 629 and 630, from the 'Onde' series
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £6,250
120
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Vase, model no. 584, from the 'Ceramiche a colaggio' series, and dish, model no. 631, from the 'Onde' series
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £4,750
121
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Lidded jar, model no. 387
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £15,000
122
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Rare vase, model no. 610
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £10,625
123
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Lidded pot, model no. 198, from the ‘Ceramiche di lava’ series
Estimate £3,000 - 4,000
Sold for £4,750
124
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Fruit bowl, model no. 442a
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £22,500
125
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Vase, model no. YP33a, and ashtray, model no. YP1, from the 'Yantra di Terracotta' series
Estimate £2,500 - 3,500
Sold for £5,625
126
Gianfranco Frattini
Rolltop desk
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £12,500
127
Gino Sarfatti
Rare table lamp, model no. 598
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £15,000
128
Gino Sarfatti
Standard lamp, model no. 1080/PX
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £5,625
129
Joe Colombo
Pair of 'Triedro' clamp lamps, 'Topo' standard lamp, and 'Elmo' desk lamp
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
130
Osvaldo Borsani
Adjustable sofa, model no. D70
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £6,250
131
Bruno Gecchelin
Ettore Sottsass
Estimate £1,500 - 2,500
Sold for £2,125
132
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Two 'Asteroid' table lamps
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £12,500
133
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
'Nefertiti' writing desk
Estimate £40,000 - 60,000
Sold for £65,000
134
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Unique totem, no. 18
Estimate £150,000 - 200,000
Sold for £187,500
135
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
Composizione di elementi di legno colorato e specchio, il tutto unito da funi di canapa, designed for Galleria Arform, Milan
Estimate £80,000 - 120,000
Sold for £309,000
136
Ignazio Gardella
Rare lounge chair and ottoman
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £15,000
137
Fontana Arte
Adjustable standard lamp, model no. 2380
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £15,000
138
Fontana Arte
Pair of table lamps, model no. 2022
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000
Sold for £13,750
139
Gabriella Crespi
'2000' extendable coffee table, from the 'Plurimi' series
Estimate £25,000 - 35,000
Sold for £35,000
140
Gio Ponti
Pair of armchairs, model no. 110
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £17,500
141
Gabriella Crespi
Set of nine picture frames
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £27,500
142
Ignazio Gardella
Rare standard lamp
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £12,500
143
Carlo Paccagnini
Armchair and ottoman, designed for a private commission, Milan
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £12,500
144
Carlo Paccagnini
Daybed, designed for a private commission, Milan
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £21,250
145
Carlo Paccagnini
Coffee table with magazine rack, designed for a private commission, Milan
Estimate £3,000 - 4,000
Sold for £15,000
146
Carlo Paccagnini
Desk and chair, designed for a private commission, Milan
Estimate £5,000 - 6,000
Sold for £36,250
147
Gio Ponti
Unique bookcase, designed for Enrichetta Ritter, Milan
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £25,000
148
Fontana Arte
Rare table lamp
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £4,375
149
Viganò
Pair of 'Tripoline' folding chairs
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £11,250
150
Gino Sarfatti
Large ceiling light, variant, model no. 2068
Estimate £30,000 - 50,000
Sold for £75,000
151
Luigi Caccia Dominioni
Rare standard lamp
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £10,000
152
Franco Albini
'Fiorenza' armchair, model no. 432
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £16,250
153
Osvaldo Borsani
Rare armchair
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £10,000
154
Gio Ponti
Rare armchair
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
155
Fulvio Bianconi
Rare vase
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
156
Gio Ponti
Wall-mounted chest of drawers, designed for the Hotel Royal, Naples
Estimate £25,000 - 35,000
Sold for £65,000
157
Fulvio Bianconi
'Fascie di colore' vase, model no. 3839
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £7,500
158
Paolo Buffa
Pair of armchairs, model no. 118/F
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000
Sold for £47,500
159
Venini
Pair of ceiling lights, model no. 802.6
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £11,250
160
Gio Ponti
Coffee table
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000
Sold for £22,500
161
Gio Ponti
Double-pedestal desk, designed for the public administration offices, Forlí
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £12,500
162
Max Ingrand
Rare ceiling light, model no. 2271
Estimate £12,000 - 18,000
Sold for £17,500
163
Max Ingrand
Ceiling light, model no. 2088
Estimate £12,000 - 18,000
Sold for £47,500
164
Giorgio Ramponi
Unique centre table, designed for the Hotel Palace, Bari
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £8,750
165
Gio Ponti
Side table, model no. 1128
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £20,000
166
Venini
Group of eight ceiling droplets, designed for the Alba Theatre, Alba
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £8,750
167
Max Ingrand
Rare standard lamp, model no. 2251
Estimate £18,000 - 24,000
168
Ado Chale
Low table
Estimate £20,000 - 25,000
Sold for £47,500
169
Ico Parisi
Mirror
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £10,000
170
Fontana Arte
Set of three wall lights, model no. 2135
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £6,250
171
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
'Limante' table lamp
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000
Sold for £8,125

Important Design

London Auction 26 April 2018

Provenance

Catalogue Essay

166

Venini

Group of eight ceiling droplets, designed for the Alba Theatre, Alba

Important Design