Sotheby’s June 14 sale of Twentieth Century design brought $7,398,250. The sale, which was 72.4 percent sold by value and 62.8 percent sold by lot, was highlighted by a rare “Apple Blossom” table lamp, circa 1905, by Tiffany Studios, which brought $932,500, setting a record for the model at auction. The Artek Pavilion by Shigeru Ban sold for $602,500.
James Zemaitis, head of the Twentieth Century design department, said, “In this sale, the truly spectacular and fresh pieces did phenomenally well. I was gratified to see a dozen or so works bring prices that were above and beyond our expectations. The ‘Apple Blossom’ Tiffany Lamp was the finest example of its model and an exceptionally rare work, achieving a world record price for the model at auction. Works by Nakashima, all offered by private families, brought exceptional prices for the best examples, such as the ‘Conoid’ dining table †$266,500. Finally, it was a great honor for Sotheby’s to sell the Artek Pavilion by Shigeru Ban, which, thanks to its new owner, will have an amazing future with a rigorous exhibition schedule.”
Other highlights of the sale include a rare “Locomotive en Marche,” circa 1930, by Jan and Joël Martel, which fetched $386,000, and a rare prismatic table for the Alcoa Forecast Program, 1957, by Isamu Noguchi, earning $290,000.
Rounding out the sale’s top ten lots were Tiffany Studios “Wisteria” table lamp, $602,500; Tiffany Studios “Dragonfly” table lamp, circa 1905, $266,500; Paul Frankl rare armchair, $230,500; Tiffany Studios “Dragonfly” table lamp, $230,500; and Tiffany Studios “Pony Wisteria” table lamp, $218,500.
All prices include buyer’s premium. For information, 212-606-7000 or www.sothebys.com .
