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Ceramic artist Viola Frey was born on a grape farm in Lodi, California during the Great Depression. Though she moved across the United States during her early adult life—from Oakland to New Orleans to New York and back to Oakland—her childhood surroundings left an indelible mark on her work. Describing her initial artistic influences, she said, “I had to make my own culture.” Frey’s work often takes from the everyday; as a figurative artist, her character representations range from figurines found at flea markets to the archetypes of men and women that she encountered in day-to-day life.
Left: Richard Diebenkorn, Girl with Hand to Her Face, 1959, oil on canvas. © Richard Diebenkorn Foundation. Right: Elmer Bischoff, Interior with Two Figures, 1968. Frey initially trained as a painter under Richard Diebenkorn at the California College of Arts and was influenced by the Bay Area Figurative Movement artists such as Diebenkorn and Elmer Bischoff. Throughout her career she created works in clay, paintings, and drawings. The visual iconography of her work is largely the same across her mediums, but it is her ceramic pieces which remain her most important artistic contributions. Similar to many of her contemporaries in California during the 1960s and 1970s, she resisted the dichotomy between art and craft and saw herself as an artist who worked with clay.
“[I applied color] as a painter would. Never as decoration. And that had its own interesting story, when you talk about surface not as decoration but as painting.”
—Viola FreyExplaining her early interest in ceramics, she said, “[Ceramics] had people of all ages in it. It seemed more like the real world. It was a community.” Her works in clay are hand-built and often monumental in scale and applied with bright, expressive glazes in a painterly fashion. She used the clay surface as a canvas, saying, “[I applied color] as a painter would. Never as decoration. And that had its own interesting story, when you talk about surface not as decoration but as painting.”
Viola Frey in her Third Street studio, Oakland, California, circa 1985.
Photography by Chris Felver, image courtesy of Artists’ Legacy Foundation.The present work, though more intimate in scale than many of her works, is an archetypal example of the types of tableaux that she created. A man and woman stand side-by-side—both in suits, which Frey considered to be a symbol of power—and appear in shock or fear. There is a vulnerability to the suited figures that contrasts the powerful and dominant expressions of men that characterized her earlier works. In front of the two primary figures sits what appears to be the three Graces from ancient Greek mythology as well as a monkey and dog. On the reverse of the sculpture sits a small faceless figure with its arms crossed and hand to its head. Glazed in an expressionist fashion, Untitled resists any explicit storyline and instead explores the Everyman and Everywoman as well as the material and aesthetic possibilities of the clay medium.
Provenance
Nancy Hoffman Gallery, New York
Acquired from the above by the present owner, 1992Literature
Rena Bransten Gallery, Viola Frey, San Francisco, 1994, p. 12 for a similar example
Property from a Private Collection
40
"Untitled"
1991
Glazed earthenware.
44 x 23 x 15 1/2 in. (111.8 x 58.4 x 39.4 cm)
Estimate
$20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $25,200
Benjamin Green
Associate Specialist
Associate Head of Sale
bgreen@phillips.com
+1 917 207 9090
Design
New York Auction 7 December 2022
1
Max Ingrand
Ceiling light
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $25,200
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2
Gino Sarfatti
Floor lamp, model no. 1034
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $20,160
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3
André Bloc
"Boomerang" desk, designed for the Villa Bellevue, Meudon, France
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $32,760
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4
Fritz Hansen
Pair of armchairs, model no. 1669
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $42,840
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5
Ico Parisi
Table
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $15,120
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6
Venini
Mirror, model no. 74
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
Sold for $7,560
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7
Napoleone Martinuzzi
Three wall lights
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $15,120
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8
Jean Royère
"Ondulation" table lamp
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $47,880
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9
Jean Royère
"Flaque" coffee table
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $252,000
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10
After Joan Miró
"Mangouste" carpet
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $11,970
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11
Jean Royère
"Ondulation" ceiling light
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $201,600
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12
Attributed to Carlo Enrico Rava
Pair of benches
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $6,930
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13
This lot is no longer available.
14
François-Xavier Lalanne and Kazuhide Takahama
“Rhinoceros” five-panelled screen, from the “Ultramobile” series
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $40,320
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15
Marc Lalique
“Cactus” table
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $20,160
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16
Tiffany Studios
Flower-form vase
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $115,920
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17
Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
"Élégant" guéridon
Estimate $24,000 - 26,000
Sold for $32,760
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18
Jeff Zimmerman
Unique "Vine" ceiling light
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $68,040
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19
Attributed to Jacques Adnet
Cabinet
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
Sold for $6,300
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20
Edmund de Waal
Two tall lidded jars
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $27,720
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21
Edmund de Waal
Lidded jar
Estimate $6,000 - 8,000
Sold for $8,820
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22
Hans J. Wegner
Set of six "China" armchairs, model no. 4283
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
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23
Alberto Giacometti
"Étoile" floor lamp
Estimate $150,000 - 250,000
Sold for $289,800
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24
Jean Dunand
Large tray
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
Sold for $11,340
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25
Lucie Rie
Footed bowl
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $56,700
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26
Ingrid Donat
"Bureau aux Caryatides et Scarifications"
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $47,880
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27
Hervé van der Straeten
"Branches" mirror, model no. 210
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $27,720
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28
Flemming Lassen
Pair of armchairs
Estimate $18,000 - 24,000
Sold for $22,680
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29
Flemming Lassen
Sofa
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $15,120
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30
Axel Johann Salto
“The Core of Power” (“Kraftens Kerne”) sculpture
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $63,000
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31
Arne Vodder
Chaise longue with integrated swivel tray
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $23,940
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32
Fernando Campana and Humberto Campana
Unique "Esmeralda" ceiling light
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
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33
Zanini de Zanine Caldas
Pair of "Vazada" chairs
Estimate $6,000 - 8,000
Sold for $17,640
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34
Ron Nagle
"Blue Grady," from the "Thin Fin" series
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $22,680
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35
Ron Nagle
"Blue Fun One"
Estimate $6,000 - 8,000
Sold for $13,860
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36
Ron Nagle
"Muy Shibui," from the "Thin Fin" series
Estimate $6,000 - 8,000
Sold for $16,380
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37
Zaha Hadid
"Serif 4" wall-mounted shelf, from the "Seamless" collection
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $10,710
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38
Ken Price
"Siren"
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
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39
Ettore Sottsass, Jr.
"Murmansk" fruit bowl
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $11,340
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40
Viola Frey
"Untitled"
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $25,200
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41
Vladimir Kagan
"Unicorn" side table
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $15,120
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42
Vladimir Kagan
"Contour" armchair
Estimate $7,000 - 9,000
Sold for $15,120
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43
Scott Burton
“Five-Part Storage Cubes”
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $17,640
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44
Wendell Castle
Pair of chairs
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $69,300
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45
Ron Arad
"Oh Void 2"
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
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46
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld
"Beugelstoel"
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $30,240
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47
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld
"Berlin" armchair
Estimate $18,000 - 24,000
Sold for $22,680
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48
Frank Lloyd Wright
Pair of windows, from the second Francis W. Little House, "Northome," Wayzata, Minnesota
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $20,160
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49
Frank Lloyd Wright
Pair of chairs, from the C. Leigh Stevens House, “Auldbrass” Plantation, Yemassee, South Carolina
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $27,720
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50
Michael Anastassiades
"Mobile Chandelier 1"
Estimate $7,000 - 9,000
Sold for $6,300
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51
Harry Bertoia
Untitled (multi-plane construction)
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $63,000
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52
Doyle Lane
Weed pot
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
Sold for $32,760
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53
Doyle Lane
Weed pot
Estimate $3,000 - 5,000
Sold for $15,120
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54
Doyle Lane
Weed pot
Estimate $3,000 - 5,000
Sold for $10,080
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55
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
"Mesa" coffee table, model no. 1760-6
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $302,400
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56
Peter Voulkos
Plate
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
Sold for $14,490
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57
Peter Voulkos
Vase
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $20,160
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58
Toshiko Takaezu
"Closed Form" with rattle
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $9,450
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59
Toshiko Takaezu
"Closed Form"
Estimate $2,500 - 3,500
Sold for $8,820
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60
Toshiko Takaezu
"Closed Form"
Estimate $3,000 - 5,000
Sold for $12,600
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61
Toshiko Takaezu
"Closed Form"
Estimate $3,000 - 5,000
Sold for $10,710
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62
Toshiko Takaezu
"Closed Form"
Estimate $6,000 - 8,000
Sold for $25,200
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63
Toshiko Takaezu
"Closed Form" with rattle
Estimate $3,000 - 5,000
Sold for $20,160
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64
George Nakashima
Set of three "Amoeba" nesting tables
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $17,640
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65
George Nakashima
Custom sliding door cabinet
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $88,200
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66
George Nakashima
"Slab" coffee table
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $16,380
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67
Gio Ponti
Wall light, designed for the Hotel Parco dei Principi, Rome
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
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68
George Nakashima
"Cushion" chair and ottoman
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $16,380
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69
Fontana Arte
Pair of mirrors, model no. 2359
Estimate $7,000 - 9,000
Sold for $10,080
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70
Gio Ponti
Coffee table
Estimate $3,000 - 5,000
Sold for $10,080
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71
Angelo Lelii
Floor lamp, model no. 12829
Estimate $6,000 - 8,000
Sold for $6,300
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72
Finn Juhl
“Chieftain” chair, model no. FJ 49 A
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $88,200
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73
Max Ingrand
Pair of wall lights, model no. 1568
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $12,600
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74
Gio Ponti
Side table
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
Sold for $12,600
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75
Angelo Lelii
Ceiling light
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $44,100
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76
Josef Hoffmann
"Brotkorb," model no. S 4453
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $17,640
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77
Seguso
Four wall lights
Estimate $7,000 - 9,000
Sold for $7,560
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78
Josef Hoffmann
Vase, model no. M 3067/M va 6
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $6,930
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79
Gio Ponti and Emilio Lancia
Pair of armchairs, from Casa Bonomi, Milan
Estimate $6,000 - 8,000
Sold for $12,600
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80
Josef Hoffmann
"Aufsatz" centerpiece, model no. M sh 17
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $15,120
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81
Gio Ponti and Emilio Lancia
Pair of stools, from Casa Bonomi, Milan
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $3,780
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82
Albert Cheuret
Ceiling light
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $22,680
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83
Gio Ponti and Emilio Lancia
Chest of drawers
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $21,420
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84
Ingrid Donat
Pair of "Bougeoirs Ekorce Rondelles 03"
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $8,820
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85
Ico Parisi
Unique wall-mounted console table
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $15,120
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86
Fontana Arte
Pair of wall lights
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
Sold for $8,820
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87
Ico Parisi
Side table
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
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88
Gabriella Crespi
"Caleidoscopio" floor lamp
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $13,860
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89
Gio Ponti
Table
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $35,280
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90
Angelo Lelii
Three "3 Lune" ceiling lights
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $56,700
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91
Carlo Scarpa
Ceiling light, model no. 5294
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $34,020
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