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State Support - „Austria Table“ by Gaetano Pesce at the Vienna Dorotheum Design Auction on 24th November 2009
Austria-Table, Gaetano Pesce, 1996, polyurethane,
metal, Height: 73 cm, 270 x 105 cm,
Valuation: € 45.000 - 55.000
Tables tend to be circular, rectangular, or curved. Those by the Italian design star Gaetano Pesce, however, might just come in the shape of certain states. Originally part of his 1996 EU table series depicting the 15 member states at that time, the Austria Table is now coming up for auction at the Vienna Dorotheum Design Auction on 24th November 2009.
Like all the other 'states', this unique item rests on massive legs in the shape of question marks. For the material, Pesce, who also made a table representing the entire EU, chose highly resistant polyurethane resin which can be applied in different coloured layers and which according to the artist facilitates a certain randomness in its appearance. In 'Austria's' case, the light coloured table surface is characterised by slight structuring and dots; 'France' on the other hand featured three striped of different colours. Pesce refers to his technique as "a contemporary reiteration of the mosaic". Made by the renowned Mourmans Gallery in Belgium, the Austria Table is valued at between 45.000 and 55.000 Euro.
Born in 1939 in La Spezia and currently living mainly in New York, the artist/designer Gaetano Pesce also studied architecture and industrial design at Venice. In 1968 he developed the „Up“ series of seats for B & B Italia, which already evinced his flair for the experimental. These polyurethane foam seats were compressed flat and sold vacuum sealed in foil. Only when the polyurethane foam was exposed to air did they assume their final shape.
Auction:
DESIGN, Tuesday, 24th November 2009, 5:00 P.M.
Public Viewing:
from 14. November 2009
Expert:
Dr. Gerti Draxler, Tel. + 43 1/515 60-226
gerti.draxler@dorotheum.at
Venue:
PALAIS DOROTHEUM, Wien 1, Dorotheergasse 17
Press Office:
Mag. Doris Krumpl, Tel. + 43 1/515 60-406
doris.krumpl@dorotheum.at
 | Austria-Table, Gaetano Pesce, 1996, polyurethane, metal, Height: 73 cm, 270 x 105 cm, Valuation: € 45.000 - 55.000 |
