Important 20th Century Decorative Art and Design Works Shine at Christie’s New York

NEW YORK, NY.- Christie’s announce the sales of Important 20th Century Decorative Art & Design and Important Tiffany, both including Property from the Collection of Max Palevsky. The sales will take place on Wednesday December 15. The auctions immediately follow the highly anticipated Day Sale of DeLorenzo: 30 Years. With over 100 lots, the Important 20th Century Decorative Art & Design sale is expected to generate upwards of $2.5 million, with works ranging from Art Nouveau, Arts & Crafts, Art Deco, to the Modernist and Contemporary movements. A notable sale highlight is the ‘abstract’ ‘Wisteria’ leaded Glass Window’ by Frank Lloyd Wright, pictured above. Hailing from one of the architect’s most acclaimed houses from his Prairie School period, the window was envisioned as a light screen, delineating interior space and unifying the interior with the landscape beyond.

‘Important Tiffany’ counts many splendid highlights such as ‘Wisteria’ Leaded Glass and Bronze Table Lamp, circa 1905 (Estimate: $400,000 – 600,000), pictured right. With graceful garlands twisting together to construct the shade, this rare example of the Wisteria series epitomizes Tiffany Studio’s consummate artistry.

Highlights from Christie’s Important 20th Century Decorative Art and Design Including Property from the Collection of Max Palevsky are:

• Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann ‘A Pair of Macassar ‘Hydravion’ Bergères with Matching Ottomans’, designed 1917 Estimate: $150,000-200,000

The exquisite pair of Hydravion’ Berères from Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann are especially rare as they each have their matching ottomans and are in excellent condition. Ruhlmann created them during the height if his career.

• Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co.’ An Enameled ‘Cymric’ Silver Vase with Cabochons’, 1900 Estimate: $70,000-90,000

Hailing from Property from the Collection of Max Palevsky this work by the leading British Art Nouveau designer is evocative of Celtic art from the Book of Kells, featuring typical blue and turquoise enameled decoration of the movement. Knox worked for Liberty & Co. from 1899 until 1912, where he spearheaded the firm’s Tudric pewter, Cymric silver and jewelry lines.

• Harry Bertoia ‘A Patinated Bronze Pre-Sound Sculpture’, 1966 Estimate: $60,000-80,000

This kinetic Harry Bertoia work was the precursor to his acclaimed and highly sought after ‘Sound Sculpture’ series. It explores the notion of wind moving fields of wheat and explores the sounds of the sculptures metal rods touching each other.

• François-Xavier Lalanne`Crapaud’ ‘A pair of molded polyester armchairs’, designed 1968 Estimate: $40,000-60,000

These whimsical oversize crouching frog chairs are synonymous with François-Xavier Lalanne’s penchant for the surreal and light-hearted. Frogs are among the artist’s animal menagerie that also includes dinosaurs, rhinoceroses and baboons.

• Carlo Bugatti ‘A Painted Parchment, Oak, Hammered Copper and Glass Cabine’t, 1902 Estimate: $50,000-80,000

This exceptional painted parchment, oak, hammered copper and glass cabinet by the Italian designer Carlo Bugatti was created at the time Bugatti won a Diploma of Honor at the International Exhibition of Turin. The cabinet is a typical example of Bugatti’s brilliant craftsmanship, and displays all of his most prized hallmarks: painted parchment, intricately cast bronze dragonfly handles, and beaten copper decoration. The cabinet also bears a rare plaque with his signature. It comes from the ‘Estate of Alistair Bradley Martin’.

• Armand Albert Rateau for Maison Bagues A Patinated Metal and Glass Butterfly Sconce, circa 1925 Estimate: $15,000-20,000

This sconce was designed by Armand Albert Rateau, and executed by Maison Bagues, who installed the fixture in the Pavillon de l’Elegance at the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes. It was created for the home of fashion designer Jeanne Lanvin.

Highlights from Christie’s Important Tiffany Including Property from the Collection of Max Palevsky are:

• Tiffany Studios ‘A ‘Snowball’ Leaded Glass and Bronze Floor Lamp’, circa 1905 Estimate: $400,000-600,000

The sale’s cover lot, hailing from a private European collection, is an exceptional example of the Tiffany Studios’ ‘Snowball’ model. With its domed shade, this floor lamp boasts a wealth of overlapping leaves and flora that exude a sublime naturalism that is characteristic of its shape.

• Louis Comfort Tiffany ‘An Important Brass-Inlaid Cherry Center Table’, circa 1881 Estimate: $150,000 – $200,000

The table is a rare surviving object from Louis Comfort Tiffany’s home at the Bella Apartment House at 48 East 26th Street in Manhattan. Few objects from Tiffany’s Bella Apartment home are known; notably, the leaded glass window seen in the view of the hall is now in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Constructed in cherry and pine, the table incorporates brass-inset teak printing blocks imported from India.

• Tiffany Studios ‘A ‘Peony’ Leaded Glass Window from the Darius Goff House’, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, circa 1893 Estimate: $100,000 – $150,000

Another highlight is a lovely and rare ‘Peony’ leaded glass window. Tiffany Studios produced a vast number of religious windows, but windows intended for a domestic setting are relatively rare. This window, depicting a vase filled with peonies sitting on a table, is an extraordinary example of one such window for use in a home. The extraordinary treatment of the flowers in the window exemplifies the high quality of work emerging from the Tiffany workshops at this time.

• Tiffany Studios ‘A ‘Rose’ Leaded Glass and Bronze Table Lamp’, circa 1910 Estimate: $100,000-150,000

Also among the highlights from the Property from a Private European Collection, is a ‘Rose’ Leaded Glass and Bronze Table Lamp, circa 1910. This remarkable example possesses a striking contrast of the red petals with the green foliage of the roses being depicted.

• Tiffany Studios ‘A ‘Tulip’ Leaded Glass and Bronze Floor Lamp’, circa 1915 Estimate: $120,000-180,000

Included in the sale are five exquisite lots from the renowned Collection of Max Palevsky. Leading this selection is A ‘Tulip’ Leaded Glass and Bronze Floor Lamp, circa 1915. This floor lamp features Tiffany’s coveted Tulip motif, executed in rich shades of green and yellow.

Viewings: Christie’s Rockefeller Center Galleries
Saturday December 11 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday December 12 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Monday December 13 10:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday December 14 10:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday December 15 10:00am – 5:00pm

Auctions: Christie’s Important 20th Century Decorative Art & Design Including Property from the Collection of Max Palevsky – Important Tiffany, Including Property from the Collection of Max Palevsky
Wednesday December 15, 2010