Chair by Irish designer fetches €22m

AN ART deco armchair by Irish designer Eileen Gray smashed records and topped sales on day two of the Yves Saint Laurent art auction yesterday, becoming the most expensive 20th century piece of furniture ever.

The €21.9 million bid for the one-off rounded brown leather piece — known as “the Dragon’s armchair” because the arms feature sculptured dragon’s heads — set a record for the iconic designer, as well as being the second highest price ever paid for furniture.

The highest ever was an 18th century “Badmington cabinet” sold for $36.6m (e28m) in December 2004.