Christie’s New York will hold its mid-season sale of 20th Century Decorative Art and Design on March 16, 2010. The 112 lot sale offers a wide range of high quality and affordable objects and furniture by well-known makers from the 20th century, featuring works by Tiffany Studios, Frank Lloyd Wright, Daum, George Nakashima, Harry Bertoia, Sam Maloof and Joe D’Urso.
One of the 20th century’s most important and influential American architects, Frank Lloyd Wright, is represented by a pair of elegant Leaded Glass Windows from the B. Harley Bradley House, Kankakee, Illinois, circa 1900 (estimate: $12,000-18,000). Representing Tiffany Studios is a charming Curtain Border Leaded Glass and Bronze Chandelier, circa 1910 (estimate: $30,000-50,000).
Leading the furniture offerings is a selection from the Estate of Dorothy and Marshall M. Reisman, owners of the Wine Merchants, Ltd Companies located in New York, Ohio and Florida. Their success in this industry enabled the Reismans to amass an astute and varied collection of Modern masterpieces by a range of artists. Among the offerings from this collection are exquisite pieces by modern craftsmen such as George Nakashima and Sam Maloof. Nakashima’s work combined the tenets of the arts and craft’s movement with his deep reverence for nature. Offered in this sale is a Special Conoid Persian and Black Walnut Desk, 1972 (estimate: $8,000-12,000), which demonstrates Nakashima’s exceptional ability to create functional furniture while respecting the natural form of the timber. Sam Maloof is represented by an elegant oak chair from 1988 (estimate: $5,000-7,000).
An extraordinary a melt-coated Brass and Steel Sculpture, circa 1955 by Harry Bertoia will be offered at an estimate of $15,000-20,000. Representing the more contemporary offerings is a sleek stainless steel and wire glass Coffee Table, designed by Joe D’Urso in 1980 (estimate: $5,000-7,000).
The sale will also include a group of exquisite glassworks by the renowned French art glass factory, Daum, owned by the late Dr. Simon Pinhas, an enthusiastic collector of Daum and Emile Gallè. The offerings include two Wheel-Carved Glass Bottles with Stoppers, circa 1910 (estimate: $1,800-2,500). Other notable highlights are an Alfred Daguet respoussé metal box, circa 1904, (estimate: $3,000-5,000), a pair of Pierre Patout armchairs from the S.S. Normandie (estimate: $6,000-8,000), and a stoneware table lamp base by Peter Voulkos (estimate: $9,000-12,000).
Image: Sam Maloof, An Oak Chair, 1988, 30 in. high. Estimate: $5,000-7,000. Photo: Christie’s Images Ltd 2010