A SPECTACULAR three-day auction at Christie’s in Paris of early 20th century decorative art and design ended on Thursday night with 84 per cent of lots sold for €42 million.
Nine items of household furnishings – from chairs to rugs - designed by Enniscorthy, Co Wexford-born Eileen Gray during the 1920s in France made a combined total of €3.2 million.
Christie’s said “the visionary designs of Eileen Gray captivated the imagination of many during the public viewings at Palais de Tokyo” which attracted 17,000 people.
Among the highlights, a Paravent Briques(a black lacquered brick screen made from wood panels) – one of six she created - made €1.3 million, within its estimate of €1 million to €1.5 million, and was bought by a European collector.
One of her signature Bibendum armchairs, a padded seat with ivory-white fabric upholstery on a tubular chromed steel base, sold to an American collector for €709,000. A rare original example of her much-copied tubular steel occasional table, with a height-adjustable top, was bought by a European gallery for €241,000.
The table is the most widely reproduced of all Eileen Gray’s designs since its manufacture was licensed by her in the 1970s. Four items by Ms Gray failed to reach their reserve and were unsold.
On Tuesday in London, Sotheby’s held its 17th annual Irish sale, a traditional barometer of the international demand for Irish art.
At last year’s sale, only 40 per cent of lots sold, so there was much nervous anticipation before proceedings got underway at New Bond Street in Mayfair. In the event, almost two-thirds (64 per cent) of the 71 lots sold for a total of £1.9 million (€2.1 million). (See panel).
Commenting afterwards, auctioneer Grant Ford said he was pleased with the influx of new buyers and bidders from Ireland, the UK and the US, as well as China.
Sotheby’s also noted former clients had returned to the Irish sale after an absence of some years. Prices may be significantly lower than at the height of the boom but sales appear to be recovering.
Elsewhere in London, fine art auctioneers Bonhams sold a two-page letter in Italian by James Joyce to a French collector for £33,600 (estimate £12,000 -£18,000).
A photographic portrait of Oscar Wilde, signed by the playwright and dated 1882 taken by leading late 19th century New York photographer Napoleon Sarony, sold for £20,400 (£7,000-£9,000).
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1 Landscape, Cassis by Roderic O’Conor £337,250 (£120,00-£180,000)
2 The Child of the Sea by Jack B Yeats £229,250 (£100,000-£150,000)
3 A Lady in Brown by Sir John Lavery £121,250 (£100,000-£150,000)
4 Double Grey Fish, still life by William Scott £99,650 (£60,000-£80,000)
5 Sunlit Landscape by Mary Swanzy £91,250 (£60,000-$80,000)
