This screen by Eileen Gray made 1,353,000 at Christie's in Paris. (click on image to enlarge)
The inaugural session of 20th century masterpieces from the Gourdon Collection at Christie’s in Paris brought in €24,293,400. The top lot of the opening day of the three day sale was a chaise longue ‘on skis’ created in 1929 by Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann. It made €2,865,000.
The visionary designs of Irish designer Eileen Gray captivated the imagination of many during the public viewings at Palais de Tokyo. Gray’s black-lacquered ‘Brick’ screen circa 1922 made €1,353,000. Her ‘Bibendum’ armchair which clearly evokes the logo of tire-manufacturer Michelin made €709,000.
No less than eight works of art sold made over €1 million and there were five world records for artists. These included the Ruhlmann chaise longue, a carpet by Fernand Léger at €169,000, a carpet by Francis Bacon at €109,000 , a work by René Coulon at €85,000 and furniture by Louis Majorelle at €1,162,600.
The remaining four sessions of the sale take place today and tomorrow.
SEE antiquesandartireland.com post for December 3
UDATE: Overall this sale brought in 42.38 million euro over five sessions.