European Ceramic and Porcelain
See also : Ceramic < 1760 Russia 1700-1900 Ancient French furniture 18th century furniture Louis XIV to XVI Revolution and Empire 20th century furniture
Chronology : 1780-1789 1800-1809 1840-1849 1970
Chronology : 1780-1789 1800-1809 1840-1849 1970
1525 Tondino by Nicola da Urbino
2009 SOLD for € 1.2M including premium by Christie's
Link to catalogue.
1570-1580 Porcelain Charger from Medici Workshop
1994 SOLD for FF 8.8M before fees by Ferri
1732 Couple of Lions in Meissen Porcelain
2006 SOLD for £ 2.8M including premium by Christie's
narrated in 2020
Augustus the Strong united in a personal capacity the crowns of Saxony and Poland, under the names of Frederick Augustus I and Augustus II respectively. Megalomaniac and tempted by absolutism, he was inspired by Versailles to beautify his capital Dresden.
The alchemist Böttger was looking for the Philosopher's Stone in the service of Augustus and of course he could not find it. He experimented with very high temperatures to which he subjected kaolin-based pastes. He thus created for the first time in Europe a hard porcelain comparable to the Chinese porcelain.
Augustus immediately understood the interest of this invention for his own prestige. In 1710, he founded the Meissen porcelain factory, near Dresden. He had then collected ceramics from all sources in order to demonstrate the superiority of his new Saxon porcelain.
Animal metaphors are in the fashion. Augustus conceives around 1730 a porcelain menagerie in which the smaller animals would be life-size, the birds often in groups of four or eight. Entire rooms will have to be devoted to their exhibition in his Japanese Palace in Dresden. Meissen artists begin to prepare hundreds of subjects.
This new technique is particularly difficult for large figures. Glaze cannot be applied by dipping. The heat treatment creates shrinkages and cracks, to such an extent that their coloring, illusory in terms of yield, is not developed.
The death of Augustus in February 1733 put an end to the commission of the specific menagerie, but his successor continued to protect Meissen, whose commercial edition of small figures in brilliant colors became the specialty.
A pair of 50 cm high and 80 cm wide sculptures showing recumbent lion and lioness was sold for £ 2.8M including premium by Christie's on December 18, 2006, lot 51. Designed in 1732, they were made in white Meissen porcelain, with some examples of the inevitable firing faults of that period. They had remained with the descendants of Augustus.
The alchemist Böttger was looking for the Philosopher's Stone in the service of Augustus and of course he could not find it. He experimented with very high temperatures to which he subjected kaolin-based pastes. He thus created for the first time in Europe a hard porcelain comparable to the Chinese porcelain.
Augustus immediately understood the interest of this invention for his own prestige. In 1710, he founded the Meissen porcelain factory, near Dresden. He had then collected ceramics from all sources in order to demonstrate the superiority of his new Saxon porcelain.
Animal metaphors are in the fashion. Augustus conceives around 1730 a porcelain menagerie in which the smaller animals would be life-size, the birds often in groups of four or eight. Entire rooms will have to be devoted to their exhibition in his Japanese Palace in Dresden. Meissen artists begin to prepare hundreds of subjects.
This new technique is particularly difficult for large figures. Glaze cannot be applied by dipping. The heat treatment creates shrinkages and cracks, to such an extent that their coloring, illusory in terms of yield, is not developed.
The death of Augustus in February 1733 put an end to the commission of the specific menagerie, but his successor continued to protect Meissen, whose commercial edition of small figures in brilliant colors became the specialty.
A pair of 50 cm high and 80 cm wide sculptures showing recumbent lion and lioness was sold for £ 2.8M including premium by Christie's on December 18, 2006, lot 51. Designed in 1732, they were made in white Meissen porcelain, with some examples of the inevitable firing faults of that period. They had remained with the descendants of Augustus.
1763 Table à Ecrire with Sèvres Porcelain
2005 SOLD for € 6.9M including premium by Artcurial
narrated in 2020
Under the reign of Louis XV, the craft industry was managed by corporations whose perimeters were very strictly defined. The marchands-merciers are the only ones who may design furniture calling for several specialties. The cabinetmaker Cressent, who wanted his bronzes to be prepared in his workshop, was repudiated. The decoration of furniture with Sèvres porcelain is a specialty of the marchand-mercier Simon-Philippe Poirier.
The cabinetmaker Joseph Baumhauer, whose stamp is limited to his first name, creates furniture with simple shapes, embellished with metal, hard stones, finely chiseled bronzes and lacquer panels. He is a specialist of the top luxury and court-empowered, and his production is scarce.
The best Sèvres porcelains are marked with a code corresponding to the year, which today helps dating the furniture they adorn.
A bureau plat was assembled by Joseph using porcelain dated H for 1760. Three other examples of this model are known. One of them was sold for € 6.9M including premium by Artcurial on December 13, 2005 from lower estimate of € 800K.
This desk 76 x 114 x 58 cm is stamped by Joseph. It is in rosewood and amaranth veneer and opens with three drawers on the front. It is decorated all around with 24 plaques in Sèvres porcelain decorated with polychrome flowers. A third of the plaques bear the letter K for 1763. The decoration is completed by gilded bronzes.
The Graf von Cobenzl, diplomat and trusted man of the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, was a client of Poirier. The desk sold by Artcurial is probably the "table à écrire incrustée de porcelaine de Sèvres" which is listed in his inventory after death.
The cabinetmaker Joseph Baumhauer, whose stamp is limited to his first name, creates furniture with simple shapes, embellished with metal, hard stones, finely chiseled bronzes and lacquer panels. He is a specialist of the top luxury and court-empowered, and his production is scarce.
The best Sèvres porcelains are marked with a code corresponding to the year, which today helps dating the furniture they adorn.
A bureau plat was assembled by Joseph using porcelain dated H for 1760. Three other examples of this model are known. One of them was sold for € 6.9M including premium by Artcurial on December 13, 2005 from lower estimate of € 800K.
This desk 76 x 114 x 58 cm is stamped by Joseph. It is in rosewood and amaranth veneer and opens with three drawers on the front. It is decorated all around with 24 plaques in Sèvres porcelain decorated with polychrome flowers. A third of the plaques bear the letter K for 1763. The decoration is completed by gilded bronzes.
The Graf von Cobenzl, diplomat and trusted man of the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, was a client of Poirier. The desk sold by Artcurial is probably the "table à écrire incrustée de porcelaine de Sèvres" which is listed in his inventory after death.
1778-1780 The Exquisite Porcelaine de France
2011 SOLD 1.35 M€ including premium
The French luxury furniture maintained a high standard throughout the eighteenth century, and reached around 1770 the pinnacle of elegance. To appeal to wealthy clients, the marchands-merciers commuted between cabinetmakers and decorators. Arbiters of taste, they knew how to select the best.
The plaques in Sèvres porcelain generate a luminous appearance to small pieces of furniture designed to please to the ladies. Dating from late-Louis XV, a wonderful desk stamped by Joseph (Baumhauer), 76 x 114 x 58 cm, was sold € 6.9 million including premium by Artcurial in Paris on December 13, 2005.
On April 6 in Paris, Sotheby's sells a secrétaire en cabinet with open sides, 121 x 96 x 33 cm. It is decorated with five plaques of Sèvres porcelain, including two very large floral pictures in celestial blue oval enclosures.
Although this piece is stamped by Weisweiler, the catalog is prudent. Realized towards 1778-1780, at the beginning of the brilliant career of this master cabinetmaker, it could also have been made by Carlin, which would be just as well. On the side of the marchands-merciers, the privileged relationship of Poirier and Daguerre (who were cousins and partners) with Sèvres is established.
This cabinet is sufficiently exquisite to ensure that this uncertainty on the maker will have no effect on its price, estimated € 1.5 M.
POST SALE COMMENT
€ 1.35 million including premium for this secrétaire, not meeting its estimate.
I invite you to play the video shared on the web by Sotheby's :
The plaques in Sèvres porcelain generate a luminous appearance to small pieces of furniture designed to please to the ladies. Dating from late-Louis XV, a wonderful desk stamped by Joseph (Baumhauer), 76 x 114 x 58 cm, was sold € 6.9 million including premium by Artcurial in Paris on December 13, 2005.
On April 6 in Paris, Sotheby's sells a secrétaire en cabinet with open sides, 121 x 96 x 33 cm. It is decorated with five plaques of Sèvres porcelain, including two very large floral pictures in celestial blue oval enclosures.
Although this piece is stamped by Weisweiler, the catalog is prudent. Realized towards 1778-1780, at the beginning of the brilliant career of this master cabinetmaker, it could also have been made by Carlin, which would be just as well. On the side of the marchands-merciers, the privileged relationship of Poirier and Daguerre (who were cousins and partners) with Sèvres is established.
This cabinet is sufficiently exquisite to ensure that this uncertainty on the maker will have no effect on its price, estimated € 1.5 M.
POST SALE COMMENT
€ 1.35 million including premium for this secrétaire, not meeting its estimate.
I invite you to play the video shared on the web by Sotheby's :
1784 Sèvres mounted Console by Carlin
2002 SOLD for £ 2.65M including premium by Christie's
Link to catalogue.
1785 Sèvres Porcelain and Gilt bronze Candelabra
2008 SOLD 1.4 M€ including premium
For luxuous pieces of French furniture and furnishings of eighteenth century, I know a good address: Sotheby's Paris.
As I have already written in the group Furniture, this house brings
great decorative care to their exhibitions before sales, and their room
in the Galerie Charpentier is then transformed into the interior of a
palace. The catalogues are extremely detailed.
The sale of October 2 will be entirely devoted to a collection.
Lot 48, a pair of candelabra, is typical of top French taste of the reign of Louis XVI and its royal origin confirms it as one of the highlights of the sale.
The main ornament of each piece is a draped caryatide figure in biscuit de Sèvres according to a model of Louis Simon Boizot, head of the sculpture workshop of the factory. It is mounted on a cylindrical base also in Sèvres, and supports five gilded bronze arm lights decorated with arabesques. The mount could be attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire, who was the titular bronzier of Sèvres. The total height is 128 cm.
This pair was probably the one offered by Louis XVI in 1785 to his cousin Princess of Asturias, and was later transferred from the royal family of Spain to the very prestigious collection of Mentmore Towers.
It is estimated 800 K €.
POST SALE COMMENT
The pieces of highest decoration from the French eighteenth century can make prices equivalent to the top pieces of furniture. Here is a proof with our pair of candelabra, sold 1.4 million € fees included.
The sale of October 2 will be entirely devoted to a collection.
Lot 48, a pair of candelabra, is typical of top French taste of the reign of Louis XVI and its royal origin confirms it as one of the highlights of the sale.
The main ornament of each piece is a draped caryatide figure in biscuit de Sèvres according to a model of Louis Simon Boizot, head of the sculpture workshop of the factory. It is mounted on a cylindrical base also in Sèvres, and supports five gilded bronze arm lights decorated with arabesques. The mount could be attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire, who was the titular bronzier of Sèvres. The total height is 128 cm.
This pair was probably the one offered by Louis XVI in 1785 to his cousin Princess of Asturias, and was later transferred from the royal family of Spain to the very prestigious collection of Mentmore Towers.
It is estimated 800 K €.
POST SALE COMMENT
The pieces of highest decoration from the French eighteenth century can make prices equivalent to the top pieces of furniture. Here is a proof with our pair of candelabra, sold 1.4 million € fees included.
1787 Milk Art in Sèvres
2011 SOLD 1.1 M€ including premium
Marie-Antoinette considered that the top chic was to dress up as a farm working woman in the Hameau de la Reine, which was built for her in the park of Versailles. She was milking cows or ewes royally pampered for her use. This caprice was echoed in the productions of porcelain from the Manufacture Royale de Sèvres.
King Louis XVI lamented his wife's disdain for the château of Rambouillet. He tried to install a dairy such as in Versailles and commissioned a Sèvres service. From 1787, the factory completed 65 pieces of hard porcelain for this set. The Revolution interrupted the work, obviously, and the existing pieces were scattered.
A milk jug 25 cm high is presented for sale in Paris on February 11 by Aguttes. Designed by Jean-Jacques Lagrenée, it is a large ewer in neo-Etruscan style. A revolving scene shows two young people in antique dress, between two strips of stylized palms and floral motifs. The boy gives drink to a goat, another goat accepts vine leaves offered by the girl. The solid handle is a goat protome whose horns join the top of the pot.
This piece is not a royal memory, since it was not used. Under these conditions, the estimate of € 200K may seem ambitious.
POST SALE COMMENT
My article was too cautious. This piece was much more exceptional than I had imagined. It was sold € 1.1 million including premium. This result was published on the blog of the auctioneer, also indicating that it could be classified (French) Trésor National in the coming days.
King Louis XVI lamented his wife's disdain for the château of Rambouillet. He tried to install a dairy such as in Versailles and commissioned a Sèvres service. From 1787, the factory completed 65 pieces of hard porcelain for this set. The Revolution interrupted the work, obviously, and the existing pieces were scattered.
A milk jug 25 cm high is presented for sale in Paris on February 11 by Aguttes. Designed by Jean-Jacques Lagrenée, it is a large ewer in neo-Etruscan style. A revolving scene shows two young people in antique dress, between two strips of stylized palms and floral motifs. The boy gives drink to a goat, another goat accepts vine leaves offered by the girl. The solid handle is a goat protome whose horns join the top of the pot.
This piece is not a royal memory, since it was not used. Under these conditions, the estimate of € 200K may seem ambitious.
POST SALE COMMENT
My article was too cautious. This piece was much more exceptional than I had imagined. It was sold € 1.1 million including premium. This result was published on the blog of the auctioneer, also indicating that it could be classified (French) Trésor National in the coming days.
1807-1809 The Marli Rouge Service
2018 SOLD for $ 1.8M including premium by Christie's
narrated in 2020
Napoléon I needed imperial residences in order for his prestige to be visible throughout Europe. In April 1807 he ordered by decree the restoration of the Palace of Compiègne. The Manufacture Impériale de Sèvres receives orders for porcelain services.
This porcelain ware was ready in October 1809, but the concerns of the emperor had changed. Compiègne had been used for a few months to house the King of Spain, whom Napoléon had just dismissed, and the emperor is preparing to divorce his beloved Joséphine, unable to give him an heir. The services are delivered to Fontainebleau.
The dessert service is described as "fond rouge, papillons et fleurs" in the archives of Sèvres, and more commonly as the "marly rouge service". The marli, formerly marly, designates the sloping crown of a plate.
This large service dated from 1807 to 1809 was originally composed of 180 plates decorated with a butterfly in the center as well as a wreath of flowers in a circular band, 36 smaller fruit plates, 16 compotiers in two models, 4 bowls, 4 sucriers, 4 ice buckets in two models, and 8 baskets in two models also. Pieces of form display animal details : dolphin foot, eagle head, elephant head, eagle chick hatching from egg.
Napoléon took this service in his exile on the island of Elba. In 1829 it was presented as a wedding gift by the former king Jérôme to his son. It will be dispersed in the 20th century. Subsets sometimes appear at auction. A group of 12 plates was sold for £ 81K including premium by Bonhams on July 5, 2018.
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller owned 22 pieces acquired around 1940. This set of 12 plates, 6 compotiers, a cooler, two sugar bowls and a jatte surfaced in the collection of her son David auctioned by Christie's on May 9, 2018. It was sold for $ 1.8M including premium from a lower estimate of $ 150K, lot 118.
This porcelain ware was ready in October 1809, but the concerns of the emperor had changed. Compiègne had been used for a few months to house the King of Spain, whom Napoléon had just dismissed, and the emperor is preparing to divorce his beloved Joséphine, unable to give him an heir. The services are delivered to Fontainebleau.
The dessert service is described as "fond rouge, papillons et fleurs" in the archives of Sèvres, and more commonly as the "marly rouge service". The marli, formerly marly, designates the sloping crown of a plate.
This large service dated from 1807 to 1809 was originally composed of 180 plates decorated with a butterfly in the center as well as a wreath of flowers in a circular band, 36 smaller fruit plates, 16 compotiers in two models, 4 bowls, 4 sucriers, 4 ice buckets in two models, and 8 baskets in two models also. Pieces of form display animal details : dolphin foot, eagle head, elephant head, eagle chick hatching from egg.
Napoléon took this service in his exile on the island of Elba. In 1829 it was presented as a wedding gift by the former king Jérôme to his son. It will be dispersed in the 20th century. Subsets sometimes appear at auction. A group of 12 plates was sold for £ 81K including premium by Bonhams on July 5, 2018.
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller owned 22 pieces acquired around 1940. This set of 12 plates, 6 compotiers, a cooler, two sugar bowls and a jatte surfaced in the collection of her son David auctioned by Christie's on May 9, 2018. It was sold for $ 1.8M including premium from a lower estimate of $ 150K, lot 118.
The 'Marly Rouge' Service in the English & European Furniture, Ceramics and Decorations, Part I sale realizes $1,812,500, over 7 times the high estimate of $250,000! https://t.co/YheijG2OWH pic.twitter.com/tFw3P31hv1
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) May 9, 2018
1833 The Gigantic Porcelains of St. Petersburg
2013 SOLD 2.2 M£ including premium
A pair of vases had been announced in an auction scheduled for April 17, 2013 with an estimate of $ 1M to 1.5M The auction house, Dallas Auction Gallery, had preferred to accept an offer before the sale and the pair was removed. Bloomberg reported for this private transaction a price of $ 2.7 M.
This exceptional lot is now estimated £ 2M, for sale by Sotheby's in London on November 26. I republish below my article issued before the cancellation of the Dallas auction lot.
In a style imitating Sèvres, the porcelains from the Imperial Factory of St. Petersburg reached gigantic sizes in the reign of Nicholas I, becoming one of the best symbols of the Tsarist opulence at that time. These vases, most often presented in pairs, are true engineering feats.
During the 1920s that were so difficult economically for Russia, one of these pairs was purchased by an American oil tycoon to garnish his mansion in Oklahoma City. They were in this place since so long that the heirs were not aware of their historical importance and felt them rather cumbersome.
Like all other pieces in this category, they are bandeau shaped with gilt handles of acanthus leaves. The picture on one of them, showing a concert, is a copy of a painting that was lent by the Hermitage to the Factory in 1832 to serve as a model.
The porcelains of Oklahoma are dated 1833 and their height, 1.38 m, is particularly noteworthy. The later pair unsold at Christie's in November 2011, dated 1835 and 1836, had the same size. Made still later, in 1848, the pair sold £ 2.6 million including premium by Sotheby's on 10 June 2009 had the largest size reached during the reign of Nicholas, 1.50 m.
POST SALE COMMENT
This lot was sold for £ 2.2 million including premium, confirming the opinion of Sotheby's that it is one of the most beautiful pair of vases from St. Petersburg.
I invite you to play the video shared by Sotheby's :
This exceptional lot is now estimated £ 2M, for sale by Sotheby's in London on November 26. I republish below my article issued before the cancellation of the Dallas auction lot.
In a style imitating Sèvres, the porcelains from the Imperial Factory of St. Petersburg reached gigantic sizes in the reign of Nicholas I, becoming one of the best symbols of the Tsarist opulence at that time. These vases, most often presented in pairs, are true engineering feats.
During the 1920s that were so difficult economically for Russia, one of these pairs was purchased by an American oil tycoon to garnish his mansion in Oklahoma City. They were in this place since so long that the heirs were not aware of their historical importance and felt them rather cumbersome.
Like all other pieces in this category, they are bandeau shaped with gilt handles of acanthus leaves. The picture on one of them, showing a concert, is a copy of a painting that was lent by the Hermitage to the Factory in 1832 to serve as a model.
The porcelains of Oklahoma are dated 1833 and their height, 1.38 m, is particularly noteworthy. The later pair unsold at Christie's in November 2011, dated 1835 and 1836, had the same size. Made still later, in 1848, the pair sold £ 2.6 million including premium by Sotheby's on 10 June 2009 had the largest size reached during the reign of Nicholas, 1.50 m.
POST SALE COMMENT
This lot was sold for £ 2.2 million including premium, confirming the opinion of Sotheby's that it is one of the most beautiful pair of vases from St. Petersburg.
I invite you to play the video shared by Sotheby's :
1848 The Presentation of the Porcelains to the Tsar
2009 SOLD 2.6 M£ including premium
Twice a year, at Easter and Christmas, the Imperial manufactories of
porcelain and glassware offered to the Tsar the most prestigious pieces
created in their workshops. Thus the Emperor Nicholas I furnished the private apartments of the Imperial Palace.
Financially, these gifts were offset by increasing orders from the Emperor for offering similar pieces to his allies in the ruling royal and ducal families of other countries. I have already had occasion to note in this group the role that gifting had for aristocratic cohesion at the Imperial court of Russia.
The pair of porcelain vases from St. Petersburg that Sotheby's is selling in London on June 10 is a technical feat. Dated 1848, 1.5 meters high, it is the largest format that has been done at that time by this factory.
These enormous vases are adorned with ring shaped reproductions of paintings from the collection of Catherine the Great, in this case two stables scenes of Philips Wouwerman.
Russians love the memories of the palace. The estimate also is imperial: £ 1.2 million.
POST SALE COMMENT
The estimate was literally exploded, which is rare at such a price level. This confirms the exceptional nature of this pair of vases, sold £ 2.6 million including premium.
Financially, these gifts were offset by increasing orders from the Emperor for offering similar pieces to his allies in the ruling royal and ducal families of other countries. I have already had occasion to note in this group the role that gifting had for aristocratic cohesion at the Imperial court of Russia.
The pair of porcelain vases from St. Petersburg that Sotheby's is selling in London on June 10 is a technical feat. Dated 1848, 1.5 meters high, it is the largest format that has been done at that time by this factory.
These enormous vases are adorned with ring shaped reproductions of paintings from the collection of Catherine the Great, in this case two stables scenes of Philips Wouwerman.
Russians love the memories of the palace. The estimate also is imperial: £ 1.2 million.
POST SALE COMMENT
The estimate was literally exploded, which is rare at such a price level. This confirms the exceptional nature of this pair of vases, sold £ 2.6 million including premium.
1970 Bar aux Autruches by François-Xavier Lalanne
2017 SOLD for € 6.2M including premium by Sotheby's
narrated in 2020
Created around 1882, the Pâte Nouvelle is a new hard paste developed by the Manufacture de Porcelaine de Sèvres, prepared at a lower temperature than the porcelains of the previous century. Around 1965 Antoine d'Albis, head of the Manufacture laboratory, develops on a similar principle an intensely white porcelain referenced PA.A. François-Xavier Lalanne is interested.
Georges Pompidou was a great sponsor of contemporary art. His accession to the presidency of the French Republic in 1969 encouraged new projects.
In 1970 Lalanne edits two very prestigious bars using the new ultra-white porcelain. The Grasshopper Bar, 175 cm long, is produced in two copies only. One was offered by President Pompidou to Queen Elizabeth II in 1972. The other was sold for $ 1.64M including premium by Sotheby's on May 24, 2018.
The Bar aux Autruches, 194 cm long overall, is much original in its design. The tray is held on each side in the beak of an ostrich. The standing birds turn their backs each other for the balance. The folding wings open laterally on a bottle rack. The tray is centered with a removable ice bucket in the shape of an egg. The ostriches are dated 1967 and bear the mark of the Manufacture de Sèvres.
The Ostrich bar was assembled in six units. One of them is exhibited in the permanent collections of the Musée de Sèvres and another one was deposited at the Palais de l'Elysée at the request of Pompidou. Another copy was sold for € 6.2M including premium by Sotheby's on November 21, 2017 over a lower estimate of € 700K, lot 40.
Georges Pompidou was a great sponsor of contemporary art. His accession to the presidency of the French Republic in 1969 encouraged new projects.
In 1970 Lalanne edits two very prestigious bars using the new ultra-white porcelain. The Grasshopper Bar, 175 cm long, is produced in two copies only. One was offered by President Pompidou to Queen Elizabeth II in 1972. The other was sold for $ 1.64M including premium by Sotheby's on May 24, 2018.
The Bar aux Autruches, 194 cm long overall, is much original in its design. The tray is held on each side in the beak of an ostrich. The standing birds turn their backs each other for the balance. The folding wings open laterally on a bottle rack. The tray is centered with a removable ice bucket in the shape of an egg. The ostriches are dated 1967 and bear the mark of the Manufacture de Sèvres.
The Ostrich bar was assembled in six units. One of them is exhibited in the permanent collections of the Musée de Sèvres and another one was deposited at the Palais de l'Elysée at the request of Pompidou. Another copy was sold for € 6.2M including premium by Sotheby's on November 21, 2017 over a lower estimate of € 700K, lot 40.
1970 Bars by François-Xavier Lalanne
2018 SOLD for $ 1.64M including premium
François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne are close to the Nouveaux Réalistes. With a soldering machine bought jointly with Tinguely, they will create new forms.
In 1964 the exhibition titled Zoophites displays the know-how of the Lalannes in functional furniture and zoomorphic figures, in both cases with humor and with rejection of all traditions. The rhinocrétaire is already a hybrid between these two types of objects. Before them Fornasetti had changed the decoration of the furniture but not the shape.
Yves Saint-Laurent is not mistaken. He orders a bar to François-Xavier. The elements of an ordinary bar are there : the bottle rack, the ice bucket and even a shaker. They are assembled with a tubular structure that is not zoomorphic. Supplied in 1965 to Saint-Laurent and Bergé, this unprecedented piece of furniture was sold by Christie's in February 2009 for € 2,75M including premium over a lower estimate of € 200K.
Despite this first success, this product remains confidential. In 1966 François-Xavier delivers another bar, similar in structure but less compact, to a couple of Belgian collectors. The Mayersdorff Bar was sold by Christie's on May 17, 2018 for $ 4.6M including premium over a lower estimate of $ 2.2M.
With Lalanne the animals could not stay away for long. The Bar à Autruches was edited in six copies in 1970. The tray is held on both sides by ostriches made in 1967 in a newly developed white Sèvres porcelain and carries in its center an egg shaped ice bucket. One of them was sold for € 6.2M including premium by Sotheby's on November 21, 2017 over a lower estimate of € 700K.
The ostrich bar is original and prestigious but its functionality is rudimentary. A fully closed bar will better meet user's needs. François-Xavier creates in 1970 the Bar Sauterelle. The body is in porcelain and the posts are made of brass and steel. This grasshopper finally offers the whole comfort of a modern bar, including a compartment for bottles and another for glasses.
Only two copies were made in white Sèvres porcelain. One of them was offered in 1972 by Président Pompidou to the English royal couple. It is still in their ownership. The other one is estimated $ 800K for sale by Sotheby's in New York on May 24, lot 449. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
In 1964 the exhibition titled Zoophites displays the know-how of the Lalannes in functional furniture and zoomorphic figures, in both cases with humor and with rejection of all traditions. The rhinocrétaire is already a hybrid between these two types of objects. Before them Fornasetti had changed the decoration of the furniture but not the shape.
Yves Saint-Laurent is not mistaken. He orders a bar to François-Xavier. The elements of an ordinary bar are there : the bottle rack, the ice bucket and even a shaker. They are assembled with a tubular structure that is not zoomorphic. Supplied in 1965 to Saint-Laurent and Bergé, this unprecedented piece of furniture was sold by Christie's in February 2009 for € 2,75M including premium over a lower estimate of € 200K.
Despite this first success, this product remains confidential. In 1966 François-Xavier delivers another bar, similar in structure but less compact, to a couple of Belgian collectors. The Mayersdorff Bar was sold by Christie's on May 17, 2018 for $ 4.6M including premium over a lower estimate of $ 2.2M.
With Lalanne the animals could not stay away for long. The Bar à Autruches was edited in six copies in 1970. The tray is held on both sides by ostriches made in 1967 in a newly developed white Sèvres porcelain and carries in its center an egg shaped ice bucket. One of them was sold for € 6.2M including premium by Sotheby's on November 21, 2017 over a lower estimate of € 700K.
The ostrich bar is original and prestigious but its functionality is rudimentary. A fully closed bar will better meet user's needs. François-Xavier creates in 1970 the Bar Sauterelle. The body is in porcelain and the posts are made of brass and steel. This grasshopper finally offers the whole comfort of a modern bar, including a compartment for bottles and another for glasses.
Only two copies were made in white Sèvres porcelain. One of them was offered in 1972 by Président Pompidou to the English royal couple. It is still in their ownership. The other one is estimated $ 800K for sale by Sotheby's in New York on May 24, lot 449. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
