Dorotheum: The Design Auction's Unprecedented Success - 139.000 Euro for Zaha Hadid Chandelier
Chandelier Vortexx, Zaha Hadid
"Escargot" Hanging lamp by Serge Mouille
"PK-80" Lounger
Against the background of the celebrations surrounding its tercentenary, the Dorotheum auction house now has yet another reason to rejoice: on 9th May 2007 it hosted the most successful design auction in its history. The intensifying interest in this comparatively recent category as well as its dynamic growth have created an environment where every design auction stands a good chance of topping the result of the preceding one. This particular auction featured a notable number of rare prototypes and was also distinguished by a strong presence of bidders from France, who were able to claim many of the objects with cult status. All of the top sales went to international bidders submitting their bids via telephone.
The radiant and brightly coloured top lot was the internationally acclaimed Vortexx Chandelier by Zaha Hadid and Patrick Schumacher, a seemingly infinite ribbon of fantastic light, its flowing form defined by continuously shifting colours (2005). Having won the 2006 European „Lights of the Future“ design award it has also been exhibited at New York's Guggenheim Museum. Only three of the spectacular light strings by Zumtobel exist worldwide and the one presented at this auction was rewarded with a final bid of 139.000 Euro, the highest price ever achieved by a design object at a Dorotheum auction (No. 338). It is now destined for Asia.
An immensely presentable, even glamorous , „Cactus“ table by Marc Lalique, designed in France around 1949 and made of shaped lead crystal, was worth 45.600 Euro to a dedicated telephone bidder (No. 89). Likewise of French provenance, the charming and curvaceous „Escargot“ hanging lamp by Serge Mouille, 1955, made of aluminium and designed specifically for the refectory of the Cité Universitaire d’Antony, was successfully sold for 36.600 Euro (No. 14)
The elegant „PK-80“ lounger, an early design by Poul Kjaerholm from Denmark (1957) found a new owner for 29.300 Euro (No. 187). Meanwhile a rare, metal and lead vase created around 1930 by the Frenchman Maurice Daurat underwent an incredible appreciation: starting out with a valuation of 2.300 Euro it saw the bidding climb to 29.300 Euro (No. 85) or more than 12 times the original estimate. A pair of rare armchairs from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, 1905/10, inlaid with mother-of-pearl and walnut, convinced a telephone bidder to double the initial estimate and acquire the pair for 26.800 Euro (No. 43).
Press Office: Mag. Constanze Werner, Tel. + 43 1/515 69-405, constanze.werner@dorotheum.at
 | Chandelier Vortexx, Zaha Hadid |
| "Escargot" Hanging lamp by Serge Mouille |
| "PK-80" Lounger |
| "Cactus" table by Marc Lalique |
| Armchaires from the Austro/Hungarian Empire |
 | Press Information |
