PARIS.- On May 21st, Christie’s will host its Design sale in Paris, featuring nearly 220 lots with a total estimated value between €8 and €11 million. This major auction presents a broad panorama of design from the 20th century to the present day, blending historical masterpieces with contemporary works. Highlights include rare ensembles by Gerrit Rietveld, Jean Royère, Alberto and Diego Giacometti, and Marcel Coard, showcased alongside more recent creations by Guy de Rougemont, Hervé Van der Straeten, Ingrid Donat, and André Dubreuil. A special focus is dedicated to French design from the 1950s to the 1970s—a period often seen as a true golden age. This section will feature iconic works by Charlotte Perriand, Jean Prouvé, Serge Mouille, and Mathieu Matégot, illustrating a revival that was both aesthetic and functional, where bold form met everyday utility. The sale will also be marked by two standout collections. The first, curated by Tiqui Atencio and Ago Demirdjian, includes 50 design pieces that serve as a continuation of the 20/21 Art Sale held in New York earlier in May. The second is a tribute to the late artist Louis Cane, featuring 50 works sourced directly from his studio-home on the Côte d’Azur.
Highlights of the sale on May 21
Design by Tiqui Atencio & Ago Demirdjian
Paris – the key design event in a worldwide series of sales
In May, Christie’s is launching a series of sales dedicated to Tiqui Atencio and Ago Demirdjian’s vision of contemporary design. For Art’s Sake – the title of these sales – echoes that of the book recently published by these two leading figures on the contemporary scene, who have been involved with the world’s leading museums, from the Guggenheim and the Tate to the Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris and the NMN in Monaco. Opening in New York to coincide with the 20th/21st Century Art Week, the sale continues in Paris with a chapter dedicated to design. The 50 pieces selected by Tiqui Atencio and Ago Demirdjian include a three-arm floor lamp by Serge Mouille (€70,000-90,000), a pair of Visiteur armchairs by Jean Prouvé (€150,000-200,000) and a bench by Charlotte Perriand, designed for the Sandoz head office (€80,000-120,000).
Alberto Giacometti and Jean-Michel Frank
A perfect simplicity
At first glance, the collaboration between Alberto Giacometti—an artist known for his radical asceticism—and Jean-Michel Frank, the refined dandy and sought-after decorator of the 1920s jet set, may seem unlikely. Yet their partnership produced pieces now regarded as some of Frank’s finest designs and the most accomplished decorative works of Giacometti’s career. Striking in their utter simplicity, these creations perfectly embody what Pierre-Emmanuel Martin-Vivier, Jean-Michel Frank expert and Vice President at Christie’s, describes in his monograph as “the strange luxury of nothing.” This dialogue between two legendary figures of art and design will continue in June in New York, during the American Avant-Garde: The James D. Zellerbach Residence by Frances Elkins sale.
Guy de Rougemont
The elegance of a prince of Pop Art in Paris, more relevant than ever
A multidisciplinary artist whose work sought to blur the boundaries between artistic disciplines, Guy de Rougemont (1935–2021) is currently the subject of renewed attention. In 2024, the Académie des Beaux-Arts—of which he was a distinguished member—is honoring him with an exhibition at the Palais de l’Institut de France, while Norma Editions is publishing a monograph edited by Gay Gassmann. A testament to the coherence of his aesthetic universe and his passion for formal exploration, several PVC columns in the sale recall his 1974 artistic intervention on the columns of the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (estimated at €5,000–8,000 each). His 1965 paintings, meanwhile, radiate a vibrant, resolutely pop energy that still resonates today (estimated at €12,000–15,000).
French Design from the 1950s to 1970s: A Golden Age of Modernity
A coveted selection from the great names of French design
Another highlight of the sale celebrates the visionary spirit of French design in the 1950s, through iconic works by Jean Royère, Charlotte Perriand, Jean Prouvé, and Serge Mouille—sculptural yet functional creations that have become emblems of a modern way of life. Among the standout pieces is a rare pair of Éléphanteau armchairs accompanied by an ottoman, all created by Jean Royère around 1939 and offered from the same private collection (estimated €400,000–600,000). This exceptional group is further enriched by a Persan floor lamp, also by Royère (estimated €180,000–250,000). Charlotte Perriand is represented by a pair of bookcases (estimated €100,000–150,000), as well as an elegant free-form table within the same price range. Finally, Serge Mouille’s Totem floor lamp—a true luminous sculpture—embodies the poetic precision that defines his work (estimated €40,000–60,000).
From Gerrit Rietveld to Hervé van der Straeten
A Panorama of Contemporary Design
The contemporary scene is represented by a remarkable selection of works by Ingrid Donat, Guy de Rougemont, Hervé Van der Straeten, and André Dubreuil—leading figures in collectible design. Their creations, which combine artisanal virtuosity with artistic expression, transcend traditional boundaries of the discipline.
Among the standout pieces is a rare Disques coffee table by Ingrid Donat, crafted in sculpted and patinated bronze (estimated €50,000–70,000), alongside her Aux Caryatides wrought-iron bench (estimated €40,000–60,000). A unique chest of drawers by André Dubreuil (estimated €60,000–80,000) further illustrates the formal and technical richness of his work.
Adding to this selection is the elegant Shift 482 coffee table by Hervé Van der Straeten (estimated €15,000–20,000), a piece that highlights the significance of contemporary gesture, where refined form meets material mastery. Finally, a Beugel armchair created in 1928-1929 by Gerrit Rietveld (estimated €30,000–50,000) bridges contemporary design and its historical roots, a nod to the enduring influence of the De Stijl movement.
A Tribute to Louis Cane (1943-2024)
50 works from the studio of the artist who recently passed away
Louis Cane – painter, founding member of the Supports/Surfaces art movement, sculptor and designer – leaves behind a colossal body of work, colored by a deep sense of joy. His creations, rich in poetry and humor, transcend disciplines, materials and form. Flowing smoothly from painting to sculpture, progressing merrily from a bronze and ebony marquetry Commode Poule (€40,000-60,000) to two Grand Citronniers in patinated bronze (€40,000-60,000), his artistic work is as abundant as it is iconoclastic. The sale is a tribute to this extraordinary career with an exceptional selection of some 50 works taken directly from his studio-home on the Côte d’Azur. The body of work showcases a whole section of French art from the last 50 years – joyful, free and intensely personal.
