SOTHEBY’S DESIGN WEEK AUCTIONS ACHIEVE A RECORD $32.3 MILLION *The Highest-Ever Total for a Design Sale Series in New York*

European Design from the Collection of Marc Jacobs Nearly Doubles Expectations, Totaling $8.1 Million Led by: Two Sculptures of Bronze Monkeys by François-Xavier Lalanne Sell for $920,000 & $860,000

An Icon of Modern American Architecture: Paul Rudolph’s The Walker Guest House Achieves $920,000

$2.4 Million Chaise Lounge “Aux Skis” Designed by Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann for the Maharaja of Indore Leads a Private Collection of ‘Modern Masters’

An Important Hanging Head “Dragonfly” Table Lamp Tops $5.3 Million Sale of Masterworks by Tiffany Studios

New Auction Records Established for: Elizabeth Eleanor D'arcy Gaw | Gustave Gurschner Philip and Kelvin Laverne | Pierre Le Tan | Rozenburg Andre Sornay | Philippe Wolfers and Emile Muller

EW YORK, 16 December 2019 – Sotheby’s New York auctions of 20th Century Design concluded this week with a robust total of $32.3 million – the highest-ever total for any series of Design auctions in New York. Together, the four sales outpaced the series’ high estimate of $29.5 million and with a strong overall sell-through rate of 86% by lot.

Jodi Pollack, Co-Worldwide Head of Sotheby’s 20th Century Design Department, remarked: “We are thrilled with the results from our December sale series in New York, which cap off a banner year of sales globally for our team. In particular, 2019 saw our highest-ever total for a various-owner design sale in Sotheby’s history, and we had the honor of presenting some of the most important and celebrated collections of design, including our record-breaking two-day sale in Paris of works from the collection of the inimitable François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne, and of course, pieces from the collection of Marc Jacobs, just to name a few. Our continued success is a testament to the strength of our unparalleled global team of specialists, who worked tirelessly to assemble sales of remarkable breadth and quality. As such, we saw the market respond with fierce competition among collectors worldwide driving prices well into the multiples of their estimates. It is with this tremendous momentum that we look forward to an exciting new year.”

Below is a look at the important pieces that drove this week’s sales in New York:

MODERN MASTERS: CHEFS-D’ŒUVRE D’UNE COLLECTION PRIVÉE
Auction Total: $9.8 million
Our Design Week auctions began on Wednesday with an unparalleled private collection of art and design by top European masters, representing some of the most significant and taste-making innovations in design of the last century. Surpassing its $7.3 million high estimate, the dedicated evening sale was led by a Chaise Longue ‘aux Skis’ by Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann that sold for $2.4 million (estimate $1.5/2 million). One of only two models known to exist, the luxurious work was originally created by Ruhlmann in 1929 as part of a “Studio Chambre” suite designed for the Maharaja of Indore. The suite included never-before-seen pieces of furniture, including the present chaise longue.

Further highlights from the collection included a striking “Aigle” Vase by Alberto Giacometti that sold for $1.9 million after a seven-minute bidding battle between at least 2 collectors – more than three times its high estimate of $550,000 (pictured above left). Created circa 1934, the work presented collectors with the opportunity to acquire a rare and large-scale sculptural piece by the artist. Bidders also vied for the 22 works on offer by Jean Dunand, all of which sold for a combined total of $2.3 million. The group was topped by an Important "Ailette" Vase that brought $596,000, besting its $350,000 high estimate.

MARC JACOBS: A LIFE OF DESIGN
Auction Total: $8.1 Million
Exceptional pieces of European design from the collection of celebrated designer Marc Jacobs brought $8.1 million – nearly double the $4.5 million high estimate with 91% of lots sold, and an impressive 68.4% of all sold lots achieving prices above their high estimates. The sale was led by an outstanding ensemble of works by François-Xavier Lalanne, highlighted by a pair of patinated bronze monkeys, “Singe I” and “Singe II” from 1999 that sold for $860,000 and $920,000, respectively.

In addition, a “Mouton de Laine” and “Petit Rhinocéros Mécanique" Condiment Holder both realized $680,000. Designed circa 1965 and executed in 2000, the patinated bronze and wool sheep was acquired by Jacobs during his first visit to Les Lalanne’s home in Ury, and became the first piece by the iconic duo in his collection. Accompanied by a set of custom-made Saint-Gobain glassware, the intimately-scale rhino is one of only three known variants and represents a dominate figure in Lalanne’s oeuvre.

In total, nine works by François-Xavier Lalanne achieved $3.9 million – more than double their combined high estimate of $1.5 million and a testament to the continued demand for pieces by the Parisian icon.

Additional highlights included a new auction record for Philip and Kelvin Laverne, the second-highest auction price for any work by Guy de Rougemont, and Two "Oiseaux" Sculptures by Georges Jouve that shattered their $7,000 high estimate to bring $100,000.

10085 Marc Jacobs - A Life of Design

10170 Dreaming in Glass

Chefs-d’œuvre d’une Collection Privée

10169 Important Design