Another treasure at Sotheby’s Paris today. This side table is attributed to Katsu Hamanaka, circa. 1925. It is brown/black lacquered wood with eggshell decoration in the form of a small fringed table cover, on sabre legs. Estimate: 20,000 – 30,000€
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These gilt bronze and blue plexiglass floor lamps are over the top! Designed by César and Jean-Claude Farhi in 1970, they are being sold today at Sotheby’s, Paris for 60,000- 80,000€.
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We spotted these amazing ‘tables coquillages’ (2012) here in Paris the other day – and were captivated! Designed by multitalented artist Helene de Saint Lager, they are made of resin and filled with beautiful little pieces of jewellery and objects which shine in the depths of the resin. So original and so chic.
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With a diploma from the Ecole du Louvre, Helen de Saint Lager works in several mediums – aluminium and bronze sculpture and carpets, among others. She began her career in picture restoration and fashion design. This artist of many talents is definitely someone to keep an eye on.
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We viewed the Artcurial Design Sale today, and found some treasures, in particular the work of the Belgian designer, Aldo Chale (b.1928)
He developed his passion for minerals in the late 1950s, while travelling in Germany. In 1966 he opened a small shop in Brussels, selling rare and beautiful mineral specimens and began to design furniture and objects incorprating specimens from his extensive collection. Some minerals were worked into mosaics, and others were used in their entirety.
This rare low table, inlaid with cornaline has a neon light just underneath encased within the frame of the table. The result is a stunningly luminous effect as the table is lit from within and the cornaline mosaic pattern glows with an unearthly light.
Estimate €30,000-40,000, Artcurial 30 November 2012
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Aldo Chale also inlaid slices of petrified wood, agates and other colorful hard stones, such as lapis lazuli and malachite into black-lacquered low tables. He designed a table for the Dior showroom in Brussels, with the witty idea of inlaying mother-of-pearl buttons into the black lacquer. Each of his mineral pieces is unique, as no two mineral specimens are exactly the same. He has however also designed pieces that are cast in bronze and other materials and some of these pieces exist in editions of unknown quantities.
This low ‘Arizona’ table (1965) is in black resin inlaid with a petrified trunk of Arizona wood. It is signed on the table edge. We love the way the tree trunk is placed off centre and its jagged edges contrast sharply with the smooth, sleek form of the table itself.
Estimate €18,000-22,000, Artcurial 20 November 2012
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Coming from a family of craftspeople, it is not surprising that Aldo Chale began designing furniture and lamps and he incorporated specimens from his extensive collection of minerals. He used some stones and minerals in their entirety as in this spectacular lamp (circa 1970) mounted with cabonchons of Agathe.
Estimate €12,000-18,000, Artcurial 20 November 2012
Ado Chale’s works have been displayed in several museums – the World Exhibition in Montreal; Musee des Beaux Arts in Nancy, France; Musee Galliera in Paris. His pieces can be found in several important private collections, among them Liliane Bettencourt, British Royalty, and King Saud of Saudi Arabia.
We also loved this original ‘pigeon’ lamp by Francois-Xavier Lalanne (circa 1990)with the body of the bird forming the light. It is in bronze and copper with smoked glass and would look beautiful on a desk.
Estimate €15,000-20,000, Artcurial 20 November 2012
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Also at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs we saw this amazing piece by Fabien Cagani and Laurent Matras, founders of the French design company DeloLindo. It consists of PVC tubes cut and glued together to make a basket or bowl. We’re not sure how practical it would be but it is certainly an innovative use of uninspiring materials. There is a peculiar, raw beauty in this object where the end sum of the parts transforms the individual elements.
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Richard Wright curated sale on One King’s Lane
This interview with the 20th century and contemporary design auction house owner is quite interesting and insightful. Wright has selected a group of objects he vetted himself and is offering them through Onekingslane.com. This is a step in a new direction for the auction house and presents some interesting objects to a new audience.
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This glass bowl caught our eye at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs today. Upon researching it for this blog we realize that we are far from the only ones who find the work of American glassmaker, Mary Ann Toots Zynsky extremely intriguing. In fact we read that she is represented in over 70 museums around the world! This piece was made while she lived between Paris and Amsterdam in 1990. It is one of her first elongated pieces made of tiny threads of glass melted together. Note the rough edges that reveal the individual strands – gorgeous and so unexpected! She is widely recognized for her experimentation in bold color choices.
The Corning Glass Museum has a very interesting write up and video on her career:
http://www.cmog.org/article/toots-zynsky#.UKJkh3y9KKO
It is headed by this quote by the artist: ‘When I hear music, it translates into color’. Toots Zynsky
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