With 54% of Works Exceeding the High Estimate
New Auction Records Set for Paolo Buffa, Wendell Castle, Michele Oka Doner, Judy Kensley Mckie, and Ettore Sottsass
London, 26 April 2018
Sale Total: £7,008,625 / $9,758,109 / €8,012,961
Lots Sold: 155 | Lots Offered: 171 |
Sold by Lot: 91% | Sold by Value: 97% |
Alexander Payne, Worldwide Head of Design, Deputy Chairman, Europe, said: “The strong results achieved in our inaugural 2018 London auction far exceeded the high sale estimate and demonstrated continued global demand for important works of design. Notable records were set for Wendell Castle and Judy Kensley Mckie, showing their importance as masters of the American Craft movement, and demonstrating our client’s search for the most iconic works of handcrafted and rare designs of the 20th century. These results and the significant increase in new buyers continue to illustrate that tightly curated and focused auctions inspire and draw new and existing clients to our market.”
Domenico Raimondo, Senior Director, Head of Department, Europe and Senior International Specialist, said: “This sale offered a broad panorama across the design spectrum. We purposefully set out to create a sale with a scholarly approach, critical mass and context. It is very exciting and humbling to see such a strong and positive reaction from the global market. Ettore Sottsass, arguably the greatest 20th century theoretical architect and designer, achieved extraordinary results and a new auction record, demonstrating that the market is responding enthusiastically to his ground-breaking approach to design.”
TOP TEN LOTS
Lot |
Description |
Estimate |
Price Achieved |
51 |
François-Xavier Lalanne, 'Mouton', circa 1992 World auction record for a ‘Mouton’ |
£150,000 - 200,000 |
£477,000 $664,127 /€545,354 |
30 |
Diego Giacometti, Pair of 'Têtes de Lionnes' armchairs, second version, conceived 1979, executed 1979-1981 |
£250,000 - 350,000 |
£429,000 $597,297 /€490,476 |
135 |
Ettore Sottsass, Jr., Composizione di elementi di legno colorato e specchio, il tutto unito da funi di canapa, designed for Galleria Arform, Milan, 1959 World auction record for the artist |
£80,000 - 120,000 |
£309,000 $430,221 /€353,280 |
35 |
Diego Giacometti, 'Berceau' low table, first version, designed circa 1963, later cast |
£80,000 - 120,000 |
£285,000 $396,806 /€325,841 |
33 |
Diego Giacometti, 'Toad' table, circa 1976 |
£220,000 - 280,000 |
£273,000 $380,098 /€312,121 |
7 |
Gio Ponti, Important and rare low table, designed for the Contini Bonacossi residence, Quadreria Moderna, Villa Vittoria, Florence, 1927 |
£180,000 - 240,000 |
£261,000 $363,390 /€298,401 |
61 |
Wendell Castle, Unique three-seater sofa, 1974 World auction record for the artist |
£140,000 - 180,000 |
£225,000 $313,268 /€257,243 |
79 |
Pierre Jeanneret, Set of ten 'Committee' armchairs, model no. PJ-SI-30-A, circa 1959 |
£150,000 - 250,000 |
£200,000 $278,460 /€228,660 |
134 |
Ettore Sottsass, Jr, Unique totem, no. 18, 1966 |
£150,000 - 200,000 |
£187,500 $261,056 /€214,369 |
58 |
Judy Kensley Mckie, 'Leopard Couch', 1983 World auction record for the artist |
£120,000 - 180,000 |
£150,000 $ 208,845 /€171,495 |
NEW AUCTION RECORDS
Lot |
Description |
Estimate |
Price Achieved |
135 |
Ettore Sottsass, Jr., Composizione di elementi di legno colorato e specchio, il tutto unito da funi di canapa, designed for Galleria Arform, Milan, 1959 |
£80,000 - 120,000 |
£309,000 $430,221 /€353,280 |
|
*previous record price: €114,006 set in 2008 |
||
58 |
Judy Kensley Mckie, 'Leopard Couch', 1983 |
£120,000 - 180,000 |
£150,000 $ 208,845 /€171,495 |
|
*previous record price: $149,000 set in 2015 |
||
60 |
Michele Oka Doner, 'Coral Wave' chair, 1993 |
£8,000 - 12,000 |
£27,500 $38,288 /€31,441 |
|
*previous record price: $25,200set in 2012 |
||
61 |
Wendell Castle, Unique three-seater sofa, 1974 |
£140,000 - 180,000 |
£225,000 $313,268 /€257,243 |
|
*previous record price: $221,000 set in 2015 |
||
102 |
Deborah Thomas, Unique chandelier, 1998 |
£7,000 - 9,000 |
£37,500 $43,509 /€35,728 |
|
*previous record price: $31,250 set in 2009 |
||
158 |
Paolo Buffa, Pair of armchairs, model no. 118/F, 1950s |
£8,000 - 12,000 |
£47,500 $66,134 /€54,307 |
|
*previous record price: $62,500 set in 2011 |
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*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.
PRESS CONTACTS:
LONDON - Katie Carder, Head of Press, Europe kcarder@phillips.com +44 20 7901 7938