Paris – On 23 May Christie’s will present around 200 lots showcasing remarkable and emblematic pieces by major names in design. At the heart of this event is a selection of items from renowned private collections. The sale places particular emphasis on French women designers such as Charlotte Perriand with her innovative project carried out for the Borot family, Maria Pergay and her bold creations from the 1970s to more recent works, as well as the renowned Line Vautrin, featuring a selection of mirrors and the contemporary creativity of Ingrid Donat. Highlights also include a collection of rare pieces by André Arbus from the 1940s to the 1960s originating from a family close to the artist, adding a historical dimension to the proceedings. This auction is an exploration of decades of design.  

Living with Charlotte Perriand 

As women designers were historically confronted with a predominantly masculine environment, some stood out thanks to their sparkling brilliance. These pioneers include remarkable personalities such as Eileen Gray and the great Charlotte Perriand. The world record (€836,000) set by Christie’s at the 2021 Daniel Lebard Collection sale still says a lot about her enduring and prestigious legacy. 

The Living with Charlotte Perriand  section at the core of the sale marks the 25th anniversary of her passing.  Named after the book published in 2019 by François Laffanour – Galerie Downtown Paris, this chapter of the sale highlights emblematic pieces by Perriand as well as the work of artists in her circle such as Isamu Noguchi, Serge Mouille and Jean Prouvé.  
The section is structured around a collection of pieces specially designed for the Borot family. Commissioned by Jean and Huguette Borot over nearly two decades starting in 1952, Charlotte Perriand carried out an interior design project for their house in Montmartre, a former cabaret once frequented by figureheads of the art world such as Picasso, Manolo and Sabartès. Jean Borot entrusted Perriand with the renovation of the interior, resulting in a home that fully expressed the modernity of her approach. She designed bespoke furniture for the project, experimenting with the various spaces and natural light. These designs beautifully embody a combination of realism, rooted in the designer’s era, and a bold, forward-looking vision. Her designs are a harmonious blend of different influences, ranging from Japanese minimalism to the elegant pragmatism of traditional French furniture, drawing on a palette of carefully selected materials. Emblematic pieces designed by Perriand include a serving hatch extending beyond the corner of the kitchen wall, with a shaped makore surface at its centre, topped with a bamboo trunk (estimate: €150,000 – 200,000 ), as well as a console table combining various materials: mahogany, metal and thermoformed plastic (estimate: €120,000 – 180,000). Together with photographs from the period, these items are the last vestiges of a visionary design project.  

Other major creations by Charlotte Perriand from a private collection are presented in this section, such as a Mexique bookcase (estimate: €100,000 – 150,000), a model of the emblematic Forme Libre table (estimate: €35,000 – 55,000) and an iconic Berger stool (estimate €3,000 – 4,000). 

A tribute to Maria Pergay 

Another section of the sale is dedicated to Maria Pergay, one of the most important design personalities from the 1960s and 1970s who died in 2023. Following her creative journey, these pieces, from the artist’s personal collection, offer a global and unique perspective on her artworks, from  the sleek lines of the ‘60s and ‘70s classic decorative arts to the baroque charm of her contemporary creations. The Lit Tapis Volant-Flying Carpet Daybed, a model on which Brigitte Bardot posed for a famous photograph, is undoubtedly one of the most significant early pieces from the designer (estimate €60,000 – 80,000).  The sale also features an Éventail coffee table from 1968 (estimate: €15,000 – 20,000). More contemporary pieces include a dining table (estimate: €50,000 – 70,000) – a limited edition designed in 2007 – and a Léopard chair from 2009 (estimate: €8,000 – 12,000).     

Rare and precious pieces 

The sale also includes a selection of 10 mirrors by Line Vautrin, including an exceptional Huître mirror from a French private collection (€100,000 – 150,000), as well as the Cisco patinated bronze sideboard by designer Ingrid Donat one of the most influential decorative arts personalities (estimate: €150,000 - 200,000). A collection of pieces by André Arbus from a family close to the artist is a further highlight of the sale, a set of sycamore cane living room furniture (estimates: from €8,000-12 000 and €10,000-15,000) and the artist’s Academy of Fine Arts academician’s sword (estimate: €1,200 – 1,800).      

The sale also includes an elegant group of lamps by Jean Royère, with an Ondulation wall light (estimate: €25,000 – 35,000) as well as an eight-armed Bouquet ceiling light (estimate: €60,000 – 80,000). A selection of ceramics will round out the sale.  

PRACTICAL INFO 

Design sale on 23 May at 2pm 
Viewing from 16 to 23 May 2024 
Christie’s France, 9, Avenue Matignon, 75008 Paris