Press | Phillips

Phillips’ London Design Sale Achieves £3.9 Million, Led by Diego Giacometti

London, 2 May 2024

Sale Total: £3,909,623 / $4,892,893 / €4,572,304

Lots Sold: 121 | Lots Offered: 132

Sold by Lot: 92% | Sold by Value: 97%

Domenico Raimondo, Head of Design, Europe, and Senior International Specialist, said, “We are pleased with the result of £3.9 million achieved today. The prices realised underscore the resounding vitality of the market for important works of 20th and 21st century Design. We were thrilled to see such strong results for our two top lots, Diego Giacometti’s 'Grecque' low table, which sold for £533,400, and 'X' form stool, which soared to £304,800. Spirited bidding for Shiro Kuramata’s 'How High the Moon' sofa led to it achieving £177,800, over five times its presale high estimate and a world auction record for a sofa from this series. Georges Jouve's 'Abstrait' table lamp and Gio Ponti's Set of three 'Sole' lights both far exceeded their presale high estimates, a testament to the enduring allure of Mid-Century French and Italian Design. We felt uplifted by the enthusiasm and depth of bidding from clients participating from all over the world, reaffirming their trust in us and inspiring our commitment to advancing this market. We look forward to our next Design sale in New York on 4 June.”

Top Ten Lots

Lot	Description	Estimate	Price Achieved
50	Diego Giacometti, 'Grecque' low table, designed circa 1965, produced 1968	£200,000 - 300,000	£533,400 $667,550/€623,811
49	Diego Giacometti, 'X' form stool, troisième version, designed circa 1960, produced 1967	£80,000 - 120,000	£304,800 $381,457/€356,464
47	Shiro Kuramata, Early 'How High the Moon' two-seater sofa, designed 1986, produced 1987 WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR A SOFA FROM THIS SERIES	£20,000 - 30,000	£177,800 $222,517/€207,937
27	Line Vautrin, 'Soleil torsadé' mirror, circa 1960	£30,000 - 50,000	£120,650 $150,993/€141,100
82	Hans Coper, Rare white 'Cycladic Arrow' form, circa 1974	£70,000 - 90,000	£82,550 $103,311/€96,542
78	Georges Jouve, 'Abstrait' table lamp, circa 1949	£10,000 - 15,000	£82,550 $103,311/€96,542
5	Gio Ponti, Set of three 'Sole' ceiling or wall lights, from Istituto Gallini, Voghera, circa 1957	£10,000 - 15,000	£76,200 $95,364/€89,116
57	Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, 'Bouillotte' table lamp, circa 1925	£25,000 - 35,000	£69,850 $87,417/€81,690
11	Ettore Sottsass, Jr., Rare mirror, 1960	£35,000 - 55,000	£60,960 $76,291/€71,293
33	Mattia Bonetti, 'Polyhedral' chest of drawers, 2004	£20,000 - 30,000	£60,960 $76,291/€71,293

New Auction Records

Lot	Description	Estimate	Price Achieved
47	Shiro Kuramata, Early 'How High the Moon' two-seater sofa, designed 1986, produced 1987	£20,000 - 30,000	£177,800 $222,517/€207,937
	*previous record price for a 'How High the Moon' sofa: 132,000 USD set in 2007
34	Elizabeth Fritsch, 'River and Moon' spout pot, circa 1991	£7,000 - 9,000	£19,050 $23,841/€22,279
	*previous record price: 12,000 GBP set in 2006

*Lots 22, 90, 95 were sold after the lot closed, whilst the sale was ongoing and are therefore included in the total sale result.

Exchange Rate on 2 May 2024: GBP£1 = USD$1.2515, EUR€1.1695

02 May 2024

Phillips’ London Design Sale Achieves £3.9 Million, Led by Diego Giacometti