LONDON.- Yesterday Phillips de Pury & Company’s Design & Nordic Design auctions totaled £5,012,775/$8,070,568, with Design selling 90% by value and 88% by lot with Nordic Design selling 82% by value 65% by lot.

The top lot of the evening was a ceramic work by Danish designer, Axel Salto, Important and unique vase in the 'budding' style, 1944 which sold for £373,250 /$600,933 to a phone bidder.

Other highlights from the night include Shiro Kuramata’s, 'Miss Blanche' chair selling for £241,250 /$388,413 and Alberto Giacometti’s, Pair of 'Knuckle' standard lamps which sold for £301,250 /$485,013.

Phillips de Pury continues its world record success of selling collections of Contemporary Ceramics with an important collection of Axel Salto Ceramics.

The active bidding in the room and on the phone banks from international buyers reflected the strength in 20th and 21st century Design and the growth of the Design Market.

“Following a tremendous spring season, this evening’s auctions achieved the highest Design result at Phillips de Pury, further demonstrating the department’s strength in Europe. Outstanding prices were achieved for French Decorative Arts, Italian Design and Contemporary Design. The pinnacle of our Nordic Design section was an exceptional private collection of Axel Salto ceramics, achieving a world record with the sale of Important and unique vase in the 'budding' style selling for £373,250 /$600,933.” Alexander Payne, Worldwide Director of Design, Phillips de Pury & Company

TOP TEN DESIGN LOTS
26 ALBERTO GIACOMETTI, Pair of 'Knuckle' standard lamps, £301,250 /$485,013

52 SHIRO KURAMATA, 'Miss Blanche' chair, £ 241,250 /$388,413

9 JEAN ROYÈRE, Pair of rare ‘Ambassador’ chairs, £133,250 /$214,533

22 JEAN ROYÈRE, Rare ‘Ambassador’ sofa, £111,650 /$179,757

40 MARC NEWSON, 'Chop top table', £ 91,250 /$146,913

21 JEAN ROYÈRE, 'Ruban' coffee table, £ 87,650 /$141,117

23 ARMAND ALBERT RATEAU, Table lamp, model no. 1392, £73,250 /$117,933

59 CARLO SCARPA, Set of four, three-armed wall lights, £67,250 /$108,273

119 JEAN PROUVÉ, ‘Direction’ armchair, model no. 352, £51,650 /$83,157

13 JEAN ROYÈRE, Sideboard, £51,650 /$83,157

DESIGN ARTIST WORLD RECORDS
52 SHIRO KURAMATA, 'Miss Blanche' chair, £241,250 /$388,413

79 PIERLUIGI GIORDANI, Double bed, for a private commission, Bologna, £39,650 /$63,837

33 YOICHI OHIRA, Unique vase, £27,500 /$44,275

60 CARLO ENRICO RAVA, Rare console, £22,500 /$36,225

39 VISTOSI, Two rare side tables, £12,500 /$20,125

50 RITSUE MISHIMA, 'Eco' sculpture, £9,375 /$15,094


TOP TEN NORDIC DESIGN LOTS
217 AXEL JOHANN SALTO, Important and unique vase in the 'budding' style, £373,250 /$600,933

200 VIGGO BOESEN, Pair of ‘Little Petra’ chairs, £103,250 /$166,233

208 KAARE KLINT AND EDVARD KINDT-LARSEN, Pair of armchairs, £91,250/$146,913

226 AXEL JOHANN SALTO, Large vase in the 'sprouting' style, £87,650 /$141,117

240 HANS J. WEGNER, Set of eight 'Cowhorn' dining chairs, model no. JH 505, £66,050 /$106,341

229 AXEL JOHANN SALTO, Vase with sprouting fruit and pebble motifs, £63,650 /$102,477

216 AXEL JOHANN SALTO, Unique vase, £58,850 /$94,749

245 FINN JUHL, 'Chieftain' armchair, £58,850 /$94,749

142 ALVAR AALTO, Early group of three ‘Beehive’ ceiling lights, model no. A 331, £56,450 /$90,885

184 JOSEF FRANK, Rare table lamp, model no. M2997, £55,250 /$88,953

NORDIC DESIGN ARTIST WORLD RECORDS
217 AXEL JOHANN SALTO, Important and unique vase in the 'budding' style, £373,250 /$600,933

200 VIGGO BOESEN, Pair of ‘Little Petra’ chairs, £103,250 /$166,233

203 FLEMMING LASSEN, Sofa and a pair of armchairs, £46,850 /$75,429

135 TAPIO WIRKKALA, Rare set of eight 'Nikke' chairs, model no. 9019, £43,250 /$69,633

173 AXEL EINAR HJORTH AND NILS FOUGSTEDT, 'Caesar' table, £37,250 /$59,973

236 RASMUS FENHAHN, Unique handmade 'Hikari I' ceiling light, from the 'Aero' series £5,000 /$8,050