Art Market December 2011

Gonse Chairs , modek 278 NR, 1930-1932

This pair of chairs by Emile-Jacques Ruhlman just sold at Phillips de Pury & Company , New York for twice their estimation at an astonishing $1,426,000.

The creations of Gio Punti, one of the most imporatant architects and industrial designers of the 20th century, are more in vogue and desirable than ever. A pair of chairs he created in 1954 recently sold for $92,500 at Wright, Chicago. At the same sale, the small table pictured below, also by Gio Punti, from Villa Arreaza in Caracas attained twice its estimate, selling for $170,500,

 

An exquisite 17th c.. clock (below) was sold for the meager price of $6000 at Bonhams. This clock was made by the master clockmaker François Desbans, who lived in Amiens, France. It was designed after a model by Salomon Closter from The Hague, Netherlands.

The works of Line Vautrin remain in favor and their commercial value only continues to rise. At the last Sotheby's 20th c. Design auction in New York several of her works were sold well above estimates. "Le Soleil" ashtray, circa 1950, which was estimated $6000-$7000 sold for $15 000.

 

This handsome Korean bowl (Buncheong) dating from the Joseon dynasty of the 15th c. went up for sale at Bonham's San Francisco December 20th. At $3000 there were no takers -surprising for this rare work of excellent quality. At the same sale, a painting by one of the most celebrated 20th c. Korean painters, Park Sookeum (1914-1963) only realized half of its estimated price.

A "Japanesque" tea service in American silver and mixed metal that was created in the 1880's by Tiffany, New York, sold for $31,250 at Sotheby's.

A masterpiece of ivory sculpture, this platter dating from the second half of the 19th c. was most likely created at Dièppe in Normandy. The scene, inspired by Greco-Roman mythology, represents "Deities Presented with the Arts." The platter sold at Sotheby's New York for $56,250.

 

Norman Percevel Rockwell (1894-1978) has always been popular and his works are symbols of American popular culture. The cover illustrations that he created for The Saturday Evening Postmagazine made him something of a celebrity. The following work, "Boy and Shopkeeper Taking Inventory," sold for $470,500 at Sotheby's in December 2011.