PARIS.- Bonhams will offer 145 lots of French Decorative Arts spanning the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods at the Grand Palais sale in Paris on Thursday February 7th.

The iconic Grand Palais building in Paris was the centrepiece of the Exposition Universelle in 1900, a world's fair held to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate development into the next. The Art Nouveau style that was central to the Exposition which attracted millions of visitors.

This will be the firs time that Bonhams holds a Decorative Arts sale in Paris after numerous successful Decorative Arts sales in London, New York, Los Angeles and Sydney. The French Decorative Arts of the first half of the 20th Century inspired the world and helped shape the look of modernism.

Mark Oliver, Director of Design at Bonhams, comments: “It is hugely exciting to be taking Decorative Arts back to the place that was central to the launch of Art Nouveau and Art Deco 113 years ago, the Grand Palais in Paris. Having achieved the outstanding price of £277,250 for the Art Deco sculpture of the ‘Dolly Sisters’ by Demetre Chiparus last year,which sold to a French buyer, we are looking forward to offering more stunning works of the highest quality.”

Sale Highlights include:

• An important bronze model of a Wildebeest or `Gnou’ by Rembrandt Bugatti (lot 32) estimate £ 260,000 - £310,000.

• Four key Art Nouveau works in bronze by Raoul Larche (lots 14-17), estimates £6,000 to £30,000.

• Works by Daum and Galle, including an early lamp with dragonfly (lot 24) estimate £20,000 to £30,000.

• A Directors desk for Hermes by Paul Dupre-Lafon (lot 38) estimate £60,000 to £80,000.

• An important figural bench by F.R Carabin (lot 70) estimate £29,000 to £33,000.

• Four studies by Demetre Chiparus including `Dourga’ (lot 86) estimate £35.000 to £40,000.

• Works in glass by Rene Lalique including lots 109 estimate £14,000 to £16,000 and 141 estimate £13,000 to £16,000.