Lots of Loos - Early design scores at the Vienna Dorotheum

Adolf Loos

Jean Prouvé

Christian Astuguevieille

Franz West

Arne Jacobsen's „Egg-Chair“ sold to Brazil, Ron Arad's „Bookworm“ to Korea, Jean Prouvé to Austria – rarely does the global character of the art market become as evident as in the design category. This fact was once again amply proven at the Vienna Dorotheum design auction on 29. May 2008, for the first time held as part of the ongoing auction week and frequented by a noticeable number of international bidders.

Remarkably, prototypical examples of early design turned out to be among the most dearly valued object on this occasion. Back in 1905, Adolf Loos, the Viennese architect of the radically modern "Loos Building" on Michaelerplatz and a pronounced opponent of ornamentation, designed a tea-table with six legs still marked by a certain ornamental-decorative quality. Sold for 39.300 Euro to a buyer from France it took the honours of the highest bid placed at this auction  (Cat. No. 39). A 1902 sideboard likewise designed by Loos went to a German bidder for 36.900 Euro (Cat. No. 42). Finally, another Loos set, consisting of a settee and two armchairs, was purchased by a North American collector for 22.300 Euro (Cat. No. 38).                                                       

Occupying a position somewhere between design and art, a settee by Franz West, in its 1992 version and with upholstery by Gilbert Bretterbauer, was sold for € 36.900 (Cat. No. 15).

An unlikely pair of commodes by Christian Astuguevieille reflect the subversive humour often found in contemporary design. Both – one shaggy and covered in twisted hemp braids the other with a surface of gummed cotton twine – were purchased as a set by an Austrian bidder (€ 23.500, € 22.300; Cat. No. 352 and 351). Also sold to Austria was a jaunty „Visiteur“ armchair by the French architecture/design prodigy Jean Prouvé (€ 29.600, Cat. No. 168).

Far exceeding its estimate, Arne Jacobsen's Bordeaux-red "Egg-Chair" saw bidding rise to 22.300 Euro (Cat. No. 179) with a design aficionado from Brazil eventually deciding the contest in his favour. A large hanging lamp designed around 1960 by Gino Sarfatti similarly brought in several times its estimate, sold for 22.300 Euro Cat. No. 93). Originally designed for Vienna's  "Sophiensäle" - since destroyed by a fire - a large, eye-catching „Mirakel“ chandelier by Bakalowits lived up to its name by selling far beyond expectations. A British buyer acquired this sought-after object for 14.900 Euro (Cat. No. 200).

Press Office:   Mag. Doris Krumpl, Tel. + 43 1/515 60-406,                                        doris.krumpl@dorotheum.at

	Adolf Loos
	Jean Prouvé
	Christian Astuguevieille
	Franz West
	Press Information