NEW YORK, NY.- Christies announced DeLorenzo: Thirty Years, a sale of 20th Century Decorative Arts & Design from the collection of renowned New York gallerist Anthony DeLorenzo. Over 127 pieces from the Art Deco, modernist, mid-century and contemporary periods will be offered in single-owner Evening and Day Sales to take place on December 14 and 15, at Christies New York. Highlights from artists such as Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, Armand-Albert Rateau, Eileen Gray, Jean Dunand, Frank Lloyd Wright, Charlotte Perriand, and Jean Prouvé will be featured in the sales. There will also be several works from the collection on offer from DeLorenzo: Thirty Years in Christies Interiors sale on December 16. The collection in total is expected to realize upwards of $10 million.
A native New Yorker, DeLorenzo is a trend-setter credited with bringing French Art Deco to the forefront in the U.S. DeLorenzos affinity for Tiffany lamps was reflected in his early holdings, but he eventually expanded his collection with Art Deco, Modernist, and French Mid-Century period design in his first gallery in Manhattan In 1980, he opened his eponymous gallery on Madison Avenue followed by additional galleries in downtown New York that are frequented by top collectors, museums and institutions. Also to DeLorenzos credit, he mounted the first U.S. exhibits of Dunand, Rateau, Prouvé and Serge Mouille, introducing those artists to America.
This sale marks a milestone for me, said DeLorenzo. I attribute my success over the past thirty years to my ability to anticipate the next trend in 20th Century Decorative Arts and I expect to continue doing the same for the next thirty years.
Tony has been the driving force behind the global appreciation for every category of 20th Century Decorative Arts, in particular French Art Deco, said Joshua Holdeman Senior Vice President International Director, 20th Century Art at Christie's. We could not be more thrilled to have been entrusted with the sale of certain key objects that he has acquired over his 30 year tenure in the field.
Highlights from the 50 lot Evening Sale include two works by Eileen Gray. Grays Sirene Chair, 1912, made of lacquered wood with a velvet seat cushion (estimate: $2,000,000-3,000,000), and a White Painted Wood Block Screen, circa 1922-1925 featuring five vertical and ten horizontal rows of rectangular panels joined and articulated on vertical steel rods (estimate: $700,000-$1,000,000), pictured left), are exceptional examples of the artists work.
An important copper urn by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Dana House, Springfield , Illinois, circa 1903 executed by James A. Miller is another exceptional lot (estimate: $800,000-1,200,000), while a pair of patinated bronze torchères by Armand-Albert Rateau, circa 1933 is a rare find (estimate for each, sold separately: $700,000-1,000,000). The Rateau lamps were originally designed for French fashion designer Jeanne Lanvins residence. They are intricately designed with an alabaster shade, supported by six geese and cast with a column with leaves and pots at the tops and florets and fruits at the bottom.
A dynamic oak and lacquered steel library table by Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouvé has a built in light fixture and was created for the Maison de lEtudiant in Paris in 1951 (estimate: $700,000-900,000), and a macassar ebony and parchment table by Marcel Coard, circa 1925 (estimate: $100,000-150,000) has Greek key detailing in walnut. Another standout is Jean Dunands sculptural prototype single commission lack lacquer chair cast in one piece with an upholstered seat (estimate: $90,000-120,000).
Highlights from the 77 Day Sale works include Francois Sees brushed steel sideboard with two long doors, circa 1960 (estimate: $20,000-30,000), Phillip Lloyd Powells two-seat walnut bench with integrated table (estimate: $10,000-15,000) and a brushed metal and steel dining table by Hiquily, circa 1970, which is adjustable to hold a round, square or rectangular top.
Stand out works from the single-owner section in Christies December Interiors auction of DeLorenzo:30 Years include A Monumental Gilt Bronze and Cut Glass Forty-Eight Light Chandelier by Gilbert Poillerat (estimate: $7,000- 9,000), A Green and Gold Patterned Velour Upholstered Sofa by Vladimir Kagan (estimate: $8,000-12,000) and Jacques Adnets Reverse Painted Glass and Leather-Wrapped Iron Dining Suite (estimate: $15,000-20,000).