LONDON.- An exquisite pair of panels which represent the pinnacle of Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh抯 skill and imagination leads Christie抯 London sale of 20th Century Decorative Art & Design on 4 May 2007. The sale features 100 lots spanning a wide variety of styles and materials from the beginning of 20th century until the present day; estimates range from �1,000 to �300,000.

The Heart of the Rose and The White Rose and the Red Rose (estimate: �200,000-300,000 for each panel), a pair of painted and jewelled gesso panels by Scottish artist Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh (1864-1933), were first displayed in the Rose Boudoir at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Art in Turin, 1902. The Rose Boudoir, the result of a collaboration between Margaret and her husband Charles Rennie Mackintosh, defined a moment of consummate refinement in the evolution of the couple抯 oeuvre and these panels played a pivotal role. Remaining strongly representative of the Glasgow avant-garde, they illustrate the rose theme in a lyrical, symbolist manner in a subtle evocation of maternal and sensual love. Following the Turin exhibition, the panels were purchased by Fritz W鋜ndorfer, the great patron of the Viennese avant-garde, sponsor of the Wiener Werkst鋞te and admirer of the Mackintoshes.

The European section of the sale features over 30 lots of Art Deco sculpture by the much sought after Romanian sculpture Demetre Chiparus, the highlight of which is a bronze and ivory sculpture double figure sculpture Ballets Russes, the only example of the figure known to exist as a double figure configuration (estimate: �60,000- 80,000). Also included is a group of bronze and ivory sculptures by seminal German sculpture Ferdinand Preiss, led by the sculpture of a female archer (estimate: �10,000-15,000) and Autumn Dancer (estimate: �15,000-20,000).

The Art Nouveau period is well represented by a beautiful selection of cameo glass lamps by Emile Gall�, including a large and impressive triple overlay cameo lamp decorated with peonies (estimate: �40,000-50,000). This section also includes a collection of inlaid and marquetry furniture by Emile Gall� and Louis Majorelle, including an iconic walnut occasional table by Emile Gall�, the supports of which have been carved as giant dragonflies (estimate: �25,000-35,000).

Italian 1920-30s neoclassical design is highlighted by a selection of unique 1929 Ferrara burr-walnut furniture by Tommaso Buzzi, a partner at the time of Gio Ponti (estimates range from �6,000 to �30,000).

This group is perfectly complimented by a monumental painted and decorated ceramic urn by Gio Ponti, circa 1930, executed by Richard Ginori (estimate: �10,000-15,000). Dutch avant-garde design features two scarce designs by Gerrit Rietveld which are both in exceptional and original condition: a 1927 Beugelstol lounge chair of aluminium-painted steel rod and ebonised plywood (estimate: �7,000-9,000) and a rare black painted Military stool, 1924 (estimate: �7,000-9,000).

Completing the sale is the contemporary and modern design section represented by Shiro Kuramata抯 How high the Moon, an expanded steel mesh lounge chair, circa 1988 (estimate: �10,000-15,000) and various designs by Ron Arad and Andre Dubreuil from the 1990s.