A chair made by the Irish designer Eileen Gray failed to sell at a Christie’s auction in New York last night despite a bid of $1.7 million.
The lacquered and painted beechwood armchair, known as the 'Sirène', was made in Paris 90 years ago by the Enniscorthy, Co Wexford-born architect and furniture designer. It had a pre-sale estimate of $2million-$3million and was offered for sale by an American private collector.
Bidding opened at $1.2 million and rose quickly in increments of $100,000 before stalling at $1.7 million at which point the auctioneer decided to pass.
The result was a surprise as another chair by the designer – a leather armchair known as the Fauteil aux Dragons (the Dragons' Chair) – sold for €21.9 million last year in Paris and set a world record price for 20th-century furniture.
A second lot by Eileen Gray – a painted wood screen – sold for $842,500. It is one of a pair made by the designer. The other is in the collection of the National Museum of Ireland and is on display at Collins Barracks in Dublin.
Eileen Gray grew up in Ireland but moved to France early in the last century. She died, aged 98, in Paris in 1976. Virtually unknown in Ireland during her lifetime, since her death she has been increasingly recognised as one of the most influential figures in the history of art deco design.
