The finest of furniture
Orla O'Brien, Thursday, 26th February 2009
Not everything is doom and gloom in the art world at the moment. A shock sale at Christie's, Paris, has given hope to many who feared the extent to which the global art market would be tainted by the current international economic downturn.
A leather armchair, designed by the Irish artist Eileen Gray, has fetched a staggering 22 million euro at Christie's as part of the three day sale of the collection of the late Yves Saint Laurent and his partner. The chair, which is 24 inches high, has broken the world record for a piece of 20th century furniture and sold for six-and-a-half times more than its estimate. The sale of the collection has so far raised more than $300 million; another world record.
Gray, who was born in Wexford, Ireland, designed the chair between 1917 and 1919. She grew to international renown when the finish and styles of her lacquered furniture attracted the attention of collectors across the world. It was only after her death in 1976 that she achieved the acclaim that she deserved for her groundbreaking designs.
The chair itself, known as ‘Fauteuil Aux Dragons’, comprises of ornate sculptures on each armrest and was designed by the artist when she had moved from Ireland to London. The buyer of the chair is the same dealer who sold the chair to Yves Saint Lauren in the early 1970s.
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