New York, 11 December 2024 - Phillips' December Design auctions in New York realized a combined $8,716,236 (£6,835,844 / €8,302,428) across two sales held the same day. Of the 173 lots offered, 167 found buyers, for a sell-through rate of 95 percent by lot and 96 percent by value. The afternoon opened with Moved by Beauty: Works by Lucie Rie, the first auction in the United States dedicated to the Austrian-born British studio potter, which sold through in full for $3,237,865, and continued with the Design Sale, led by the French decorator Jean Royère, which added $5,478,371.
Benjamin Green, Associate Specialist, Design, New York, said it was "an honor to host the first auction in the United States dedicated to the work of Lucie Rie, and the enthusiasm was very much felt in the room today." He noted that the house was "thrilled to have achieved a 100% sell-through rate, with a final total of $3.2 million, more than triple the low estimate set for the sale," a result that, combined with bidding participation from more than 20 countries, "only reinforces the notion of Rie's enduring international appeal and the strength of the market for exceptional ceramics."
Turning to the second session, Green observed that "the afternoon's Design Sale favored the designs of 20th-century masters, including Jean Royère, whose pair of iconic Boule chairs sold for more than three times the low estimate after a sustained five minutes of bidding in the room." He added that Royère's Tour Eiffel coffee table and Large Tour Eiffel console "also sold for nearly five times their low estimates, each setting the world auction record for the model, which serves as a reminder of the designer's continued resonance."
Lucie Rie from an Important Asian Collection
The single-owner Rie sale, drawn from an Important Asian Collection, achieved a 100 percent sell-through rate by both lot and value across 71 works. A Footed bowl from circa 1978 led the group, selling for $422,910 against an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. It was followed by another Footed bowl, circa 1980, at $317,500, and a third, circa 1976, at $190,500. A run of further footed bowls, including a Rare footed bowl from circa 1982 and examples from 1976 and 1978, each realized $177,800, underscoring the depth of demand for the potter's work.
The Design Sale
The Design Sale sold 96 of 104 lots, or 92 percent by lot and 94 percent by value, and was anchored by Jean Royère. His pair of Boule armchairs, also known as Ours polaire, from circa 1942 set a world auction record for the model at $1,875,000, well above an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. Royère's Tour Eiffel coffee table, circa 1947, brought $355,600 and his Large Tour Eiffel console, circa 1955, realized $228,600, both setting world auction records for their models. Charlotte Perriand's En Forme sideboard, circa 1964, sold for $342,900, while Jean Prouvé was represented by his Compas table, model no. 512, circa 1953, at $127,000 and a Panel with portholes from the 1950s at $101,600.
New auction records
Beyond the Royère results, the Design Sale set several further world auction records. Eugène Vallin's important dining suite, circa 1905, sold for $127,000, far surpassing its previous record of $45,552 set in 2012. Giancarlo Valle's Kevin sofa from 2020 reached $114,300 against an estimate of $6,000 to $8,000, more than doubling its previous record of $50,800 set in 2024, and Katie Stout's unique Double Girl floor lamp, 2018, brought $38,100, eclipsing its previous record of $6,096 set earlier in 2024.
Lucie Rie top ten lots
| Lot | Maker and work | Estimate | Price achieved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Lucie Rie, Footed bowl, circa 1978 | $60,000 to $80,000 | $422,910 |
| 14 | Lucie Rie, Footed bowl, circa 1980 | $40,000 to $60,000 | $317,500 |
| 18 | Lucie Rie, Footed bowl, circa 1976 | $60,000 to $80,000 | $190,500 |
| 3 | Lucie Rie, Rare footed bowl, circa 1982 | $60,000 to $80,000 | $177,800 |
| 8 | Lucie Rie, Footed bowl, circa 1976 | $30,000 to $50,000 | $177,800 |
| 17 | Lucie Rie, Footed bowl, circa 1978 | $40,000 to $60,000 | $177,800 |
| 10 | Lucie Rie, Footed bowl, circa 1982 | $40,000 to $60,000 | $158,750 |
| 25 | Lucie Rie, Footed bowl, circa 1978 | $30,000 to $50,000 | $88,900 |
| 39 | Lucie Rie, Rare deep bowl, circa 1960 | $20,000 to $30,000 | $82,550 |
| 13 | Lucie Rie, "Knitted" footed bowl, circa 1980 | $25,000 to $30,000 | $78,740 |
Design Sale top ten lots
| Lot | Maker and work | Estimate | Price achieved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 132 | Jean Royère, Pair of "Boule" (also known as "Ours polaire") armchairs, circa 1942 (world auction record for model) | $600,000 to $800,000 | $1,875,000 |
| 133 | Jean Royère, "Tour Eiffel" coffee table, circa 1947 (world auction record for model) | $70,000 to $90,000 | $355,600 |
| 114 | Charlotte Perriand, "En Forme" sideboard, circa 1964 | $300,000 to $400,000 | $342,900 |
| 135 | Jean Royère, Large "Tour Eiffel" console, circa 1955 (world auction record for model) | $50,000 to $70,000 | $228,600 |
| 102 | Jean Prouvé, "Compas" table, model no. 512, circa 1953 | $70,000 to $90,000 | $127,000 |
| 146 | Eugène Vallin, Important dining suite, circa 1905 | $100,000 to $150,000 | $127,000 |
| 184 | Philip La Verne and Kelvin La Verne, Pair of "Spring Festival" side tables, 1960s | $12,000 to $18,000 | $114,300 |
| 117 | Giancarlo Valle, "Kevin" sofa, 2020 (new auction record) | $6,000 to $8,000 | $114,300 |
| 113 | Georges Jouve, Shark sculpture, circa 1957 | $70,000 to $90,000 | $107,950 |
| 109 | Jean Prouvé, Panel with portholes, 1950s | $50,000 to $70,000 | $101,600 |
Phillips is a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century works, with dedicated expertise in Modern and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewels. Its auctions and exhibitions are held primarily in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong.
Estimates do not include buyer's premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer's premium. Exchange rate on 11 December 2024: US$1 = £0.7839, €0.9524, HK$7.775.
(Press Release)
