Chair by Irish designer fetches €22m
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.
Another high-flying art deco piece by Wexford -born Gray, who died in 1976, was a chest that sold for e4m, including fees.
Works by Theodore Gericault and Jean-Auguste- Dominique Ingres set three new records for the 19th century masters, the Gericault going for e9 million, an oil by Ingres for e2m, and an Ingres drawing fetching e913,000.
Held in the Grand Palais exhibition hall, the historic auction already broke the world record on Monday for a private art sale with e206 million worth of bids.
Halfway through yesterday, auctioneers Christie’s said works by Old Masters and 19th century artists, as well as silver antiques, totalled e42.1m.
As night fell, art dealers and museum curators from across the globe joined the super-rich in 1,200 seats inside the Palais, vying with bids through 100 telephones for the Art Deco treasures that once graced the homes of Saint Laurent and Berge.
Barely minutes into the sale of their 150 Art Deco gems, a set of 15 mirrors flew away at e1.8m, a record for a work by designer Claude Lalanne.
On Tuesday, the Gericault in a twist of history was acquired by the man who initially sold it 25 years ago to Saint Laurent and Berge — art dealer Alain Tarica.
Despite protests from Beijing and a legal bid, two disputed 18th-century Qing Dynasty bronzes go on the block late today.
Berge on Monday reiterated an offer to give Beijing the bronzes for a pledge on human rights and Tibet.
China termed Berge’s suggestion “ridiculous” and again demanded the return of the relics, part of a collection looted 150 years ago by British and French troops from the imperial Summer Palace.
