PARIS.- Nearly two hours of feverish bidding in the PIASA saleroom cast the spotlight on contemporary furniture – firstly at an auction organized jointly with the magazine AD, then with a sale devoted to interior decorator Vincent Darré.

The World of Vincent Darré: Under the Gavel
The PIASA presentation of works from the Vincent Darré Collection was designed by Vincent himself. The jaw-dropping display – replete with furniture, lighting, drawings, objets d'art, contemporary works and items bought at the flea-market – reflected years of inspiration, close encounters and fruitful collaboration.

This eclectic ensemble provoked an excited response, spearheaded by an imposing 1971 Untitled by the youthful Gérard Garouste that clattered to €50,230 (lot 179). The majestic eight-fold giltwood screen that had graced the PIASA foyer before the sale sold for €28,340 (lot 154).

Frenzied bidding propelled Darré's pair of Octopus wall-lights to 19,960 (lot 220, est. €4,000-6,000) while his Conversation Guillotinée armchairs fetched €8,370 and €7,730 (lots 195/196).

A giltwood sofa, upholstered by Vincent Darré for Pierre Frey with an eye-catching Au Lasso design, doubled estimate on €12,880 (est. €4,000-6,000). Fashion critic Suzy Menkes wrote In her catalogue preface that she had ‘always been convinced that the artist-polymath appears himself somewhere in his designs: perhaps in one of the miniature figures on horseback, galloping across the flesh-pink ground; or entwined in cables, half-man half-animal, exhibited among the Dada-like creatures in his collection.'

Vincent Darré, extravagance dadaïste l Top 5
Lot 179 : Gérard Garouste : est: 25/35 000 € - sold : 50 232 €
Lot 154 : Vincent Darré : est: 20/30 000 euros - sold : 28 336 €
Lot 220 : Vincent Darré : est: 4 000/6 000 euros - sold : 19 964 €
Lot 206 : Vincent Darré : est: 10/15 000 euros - sold : 18 032 €
Lot 189 : Travail du XVIIIème siècle : est: 4 000/6 000 euros - sold : 12 880 €

Artistes-Décorateurs, en partenariat avec le magazine AD
The first part of the sale, organized in partnership with the magazine AD, featured iconic works of modern design by a host of star names – from Ado Chale to Giulio Rida via André Dubreuil and the leading interior architects of today.

Top price of €71,840 went to a set of three coffee-tables in petrified wood and blackened metal by Belgian designer Ado Chale, who has been hunting down semi-precious stones – which he sets in resin – around the world for nearly half-a-century. Malachite, lapis lazuli and jade all enhance his uniquely personal marquetry (lot 39, est. €40,000-60,000).

Italy's Roberto Giulo Rida also met with great success, with his striking, slender Andromeda cabinet zooming to €64,400 (lot 18). An Etienne Allemeersch dining-table in steel, resin, bone and brass impressed at €61,820 (lot 51); a pair of Sleevv side-tables by Charles Tassin, in lacquered wood and marble marquetry, fetched €12,880 (lot 23, est. €4,000-6,000); and India Madhavi's 2002 grey marble Bishop stool collected a cool €6,180 (lot 76, est. €1,500-2,500).

Vente Artistes-Décorateurs l Top 5
Lot 39 : Ado Chale : est: 40/60 000 € - sold : 71 840 €
Lot 18 : Roberto Giulio Rida : est: 50/70 000 euros - sold : 64 400 €
Lot 51 : Etienne Allemeersch : est: 35/45 000 euros - sold : 61 824 €
Lot 53 : André Dubreuil : est: 30/40 000 euros - sold : 41 216 €
Lot 110 : Gabriella Crespi : est: 30/40 000 euros - sold : 38 640 €