Auction Results: 'Important Design' at Wright
held December 14 '10
Chicago
Wright concluded 2010 last week with their bi-annual 'Important Design' auction.
The sale featured over 250 lots including architectural elements by the 'Father of Modernism,' Louis Sullivan, classic designs by Jean Prouvé, Josef Hoffmann and Gio Ponti, craft works by George Nakashima, Paul Evans and Phillip Lloyd Powell and masterpieces of Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Thomas Stearns. It also featured contemporary pieces by Mattia Bonetti, Johanna Grawunder, and Fredrickson Stallard.
As mentioned in our preview post about the sale, we were interested to see the results for the newer designers, fresh to the auction market.
For Fredrickson Stallard who we reported on last time, this was the second outing at auction, and again they were bought in. A surprising result, as they have been named one of the top three designers of the decade by HSBC bank and one of the top ten designers of the decade by the Financial Times. However it seemed that the buyers at this sale were more interested in more historic lots. Jens Peter Schmid's "Concrete Table", was a first for the designer at auction and was also bought in.
Memphis pieces by Ettore Sottsass sold well, reaching above estimates, as did a Frank Llloyd Wright coffee table and a Pierre Paulin armchair.
The John Dickinson table we were watching also sold, however this time within its estimate rather than over it, as has been the trend until now.
Results with images below.
'Important 20th Century Design' at Wright Catalogue
Ettore Sottsass,Carlton bookcase, Memphis, 1981, estimated at $7,000–9,000, sold for $18,750
Frank Lloyd Wright, coffee table, 1939, estimated at $20,000–30,000, sold for $50,000
Pierre Paulin, armchair, 1982, estimated at $7,000–9,000, sold for $26,250
John Dickinson, table, 1975, estimated at $7,000–9,000, sold for $8,750
Fredrickson Stallard, Gold stools, 2007, estimated at $5,000–7,000, bought in
Jens Peter Schmid, Concrete table, 1986, estimated at $20,000–30,000, bought in
