GENEVA.- In a wide-ranging auction, Art Déco and Art Nouveau in particular set the tone with results reaching five figures for Gallé and Tiffany. The Design section provided the highlight of the auction with the “Fauteuil à double coque” by Ron Arad at CHF 48 800.

Art Déco, Art Nouveau
Gallé and Tiffany
The most popular works at auction amongst the Art Déco and Art Nouveau were by Emile Gallé and Tiffany. Of the 15 Gallé pieces, 11 were sold. A vase in a striking red with dragon motif from 1890 made the best result at CHF 14 000 (Lot 61). Somewhat lower in price at CHF 10 400 was the mushroom-shaped lamp in brown tones with foliate decoration made circa 1900 by the same house (Lot 12). Also successful were the two table lamps by Tiffany Studios NY: the artichoke model “4-Light” with patinated bronze and glass, circa 1900, went to a new owner for CHF 11000 (Lot 38); the smaller model “Tenlight lily”, circa 1910, made from the same materials, rose to CHF 24 400 (Lot 37).

Examples of successful Art Déco furniture were a set of three “Caesar” chairs by Axel Hjorth, made in 1930 for Nordiska Kompaniet, which sold for CHF 13 400 (Lot 124) and a small rosewood console with mirror which reached a price of CHF 10 370 (Lot 123).

Design
High bids for Ron Arad and classic design pieces
With a result of CHF 48 800 the aluminium fauteuil “à double coque” from 2006 by Ron Arad was the top lot of the Design auction (Lot 360). The classic Lounge Chair n° 670 in black by Charles & Ray Eames reached a price of CHF 5 500 (Lot 217). A somewhat higher price was realised for a sideboard from 2011 with engraved mirrors and metal by Alessandro Guerriero - estimated at CHF 6 000 and rising to CHF 9 200 (Lot 372). A 2x1.3 meter tapestry by Jean LurÇat, for Braquenié & Cie ed., circa 1950, reached CHF 5 500 (Lot 209).

A collection of ceramic figures by the Italian designer and comic draftsman Massimo Giacon provided the surprise result. Thirteen of the fifteen brightly-coloured figures were sold; the model “in bocca al lupo” from 2010 was the most successful lot at CHF 1 200 (Lot 384). This collection also included figures by Matteo Cibic and Scott Musgrove. The models “Drago et Drugo” (Lot 397) and “Glamour Cat” (Lot 398) also made notable results with prices of CHF 2 070 and CHF 1 950.