AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- NOVEMBER 18TH: 20TH CENTURY DESIGN AT SKINNER
by Kelly Keating on 11/20/13
Last week all of the auction finds were from the Doyle + Design auction held at Doyle New York. This week we travel north to Boston for more modern design at the 20th Century Design auction on December 7, 2013 at Skinner. This auction embraces modernism with fine examples of furniture, art glass, lighting, pottery, metalwork, and sculpture. From early mosaic glass lighting by Tiffany, Duffner & Kimberly, and Wilkinson to iconic furniture designs from Stickley, Wegner, Eames, and the American studio craft movement. I have chosen a variety of pieces for this week's discoveries from Art Nouveau to Mid-century Modern pieces with a heavy emphasis on Art Deco which is a personal favorite of mine. I am sure you will find a piece you love and hopefully it will inspire the design of your own space.
This week's first find is an Art Nouveau chair, lot 5, from the early 20th century with a pre-sale estimate of $500-700. The chair is most likely French in origin and is made of oak, leather, brass and has wood inlays. The openwork crest rail sits over an inlaid wood landscape scene full of the undulating curves of trees, bushes and clouds. The back splat is composed of leather and has a fruit and leaf tooled design. The curved and bent armrests sit on the front legs which are square with leaf-carving and terminate in a square foot. There are curved struts attached to the front leg and the seat rail. All of these curves and the decoration on the chair exemplify the Art Nouveau style. The chair maintains its original leather seat upholstery which is unfortunately damaged. This chair needs a little attention particularly in the seat, but if one could match the leather of the back splat to a new piece of leather for seat, the chair would be given a whole new life.
The next discovery is our first piece of Art Deco for this week. Lot 232 is an Art Deco slant front desk in the manner of Ruhlmann which is unmarked and made probably in New York in the early 20th century with a pre-sale estimate of $1,000-1,500. The desk is made of mahogany, burlwood veneers, ebony and ivory. The top of the desk has a molded edge over a slant lid with an abstract geometric floral inlay of ebony and ivory. The opening reveals a writing surface and interior shelving which sits over a pullout writing surface and three drawers which have carved and inlaid ivory rectangular pulls. The whole stands on fluted and tapered legs. This desk takes a very traditional form, the slant front desk, and updates it through its decoration and its use of rich materials- ivory, ebony and burlwood. The inlay of ebony and ivory on the opening of the desk screams Art Deco in its geometric styling. I would certainly have this desk in my house tout suite!
This week's next treasure is an Art Deco Aubusson rug, lot 234, made in France circa 1930 with a pre-sale estimate of $800-1,000. The carpet is made of wool with a terracotta ground and a modernist design in cream and French blue. The rug measures 7 feet 10 inches x 5 ft. 7 inches. The edges are finished in a blue and cream piping with tassels at the 4 corners. I love this color combination and would like to see this carpet as the starting point for a wonderful room. Why not add the Art Deco slant front desk and Art Nouveau chair to this (imaginary) room? It would look fabulous.
The next discovery this week is an English Art Deco sideboard by Heal & Son Ltd., lot 241, circa 1935 with a pre-sale estimate of $700-900. The sideboard is made of hardwood and veneers. The case is fitted with a single short drawer over a liquor cabinet flanked by two long drawers over double door cabinets each of which has a single interior shelf. All the drawers have stepped inlay accents and shaped recangular pulls. The whole stands on Asian-inspired square shaped feet. The beauty of this piece is all of the matching veneers used on the case. It creates a rich surface that is visually dynamic on a simply shaped silhouette. And at $700-900 this sideboard is a steal and would be a great starting point for a modern inspired dining room.
The fifth find this week is our last piece of Art Deco. Lot 259 is a pair of Art Deco wall scones made most likely in France in the early 20th century of glass and patinated metal with a pre-sale estimate of $400-600. Each sconce has a single light with a molded colorless glass panel which is cast with an abstract geometric motif in relief. At a good size of 14", this pair of scones would go nicely with the English Deco sideboard for our (imaginary) dining room.
The next treasure this week is a pair of Hans Wegner "Wishbone" chairs, lot 313, made by Carl Hansen & Son, Odense, Denmark and designed in 1949 with a pre-sale estimate of $300-500. The chairs are made of oak with cord seats. Each chair has a continuous arm over the "wishbone" splat with woven seats and stand on turned legs. Although later in date and style than the English Deco sideboard, I think these chairs would pair nicely with it in our (imaginary) dining room. The "wishbone" splat is not only whimsical, but visually appealing in the overall design.
This week's next discovery is also an example of Danish design. Lot 349 is a Borge Mogensen secretary made by Soborg Mobler Denmark in teak circa 1965 with a pre-sale estimate of $600-800. The drop front top reveals a writing surface and fitted interior with letter and paper organizers and two drawers. The desk section stands over four lower drawers. The whole rests on a platform base. The simplicity of this design is in marked contrast to the Art Deco desk above. The surface is clean and unadorned. The teak wood is allowed to speak for itself without ornamentation or decoration.
This week's next find is a piece of American Mid-century Modern design. Lot 423 is a mahogany and glass tea cart by Edward Wormley made by Dunbar circa 1950 with a pre-sale estimate of $800-1,200. The bentwood frame has semicircular drop leaves that support an inset fixed glass top. There are two removable trays on the median shelf. The whole stands on wheels. Now here is a must have item for entertaining! You could even use it as a drinks cart instead of tea. It will be interesting to see how this lot fairs. It seems like an archaic entertaining instrument which is not much in use now. One could buy it almost as a piece of sculpture to stand in the room and still use it as a bar cart, but stationary, not moving around to serve guests.
This week's last find is a wall sculpture from the late 1970's that would work well with the Wegner chairs, the Mogensen desk and the Wormley tea cart. It could even work well with the English Deco sideboard. Lot 556 is a Curtis Jere wall sculpture, dated 1979, made out of metal with a pre-sale estimate of $400-600. The sculpture consists of six staggered palm fronds on curving rod stems. This piece has both an organic and industrial feel to it. It is whimsical yet hard-edged. Put it above your modern sideboard!
I hope you enjoyed this week's finds and found something to inspire the design of your own interiors. I loved all the Art Deco pieces this week and would love to have the in the manner of Ruhlmann American Art Deco slant front desk in my house. It has a luxury and richness to it that is reminiscent of French Art Deco and the inlaid panel on the slant front is gorgeous.
If you need help finding an antique or vintage object from small to large contact me at [email protected] and take a look at my website for details.
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Until next week,
Kelly T Keating
