the press release

APril 15th, 2015 - 6pm
Italian Design
VIEWING
April 11-15, 2015
PIASA
118 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
75008 Paris
PRESS & COMMUNICATION
Cécile Demtchenko Woringer
T +33 1 53 34 12 95 – M +33 6 38 93 44 15
[email protected]
Press release
On April 15 PIASA will pursue their exploration of international Design with a sale
featuring outstanding 20th century pieces by the top names in Italian Design.
Fausto Melotti (1901-86): Ceramic Finesse
The most important work in the sale is a rare, glazed ceramic panel (1959-63) made by
Fausto Melotti in collaboration with Seregni for an architectural project by Melchiorre
Bega (est. €65,000-85,000). Melotti was both sculptor and artist and, as one of the leading
lights in Milan abstractionism, considered a precursor of Minimalism. He is reputed for
his ceramics and the finesse of his works, as further typified by his Due Corpori vase
from 1954 (est. €25,000-35,000). A similar vase fetched over €40,000 at the sale of Italian
Design last November.
Fausto Melotti (1901-1986)
Panneau
Céramique émaillée
Projet de Melchiorre Bega en
collaboration avec Seregni
Date de création : 1959-1963
H 90,5 x L 90,5 x P 6 cm
65 000 / 85 000 €
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Important Selection of Works by Piero Fornasetti (1913-88)
Echoing his imminent retrospective at the Paris Musée des Arts Décoratifs, PIASA
are offering a rigorous selection of works by Piero Fornasetti. He was a painter,
sculptor, decorator and designer – as well as a printer of art books – who is credited
with over 11,000 works. From decors to costumes, furniture to exhibitions, Piero
Fornasetti created a style blending form and decoration. His theatrical approach
can be admired in his wood and brass Interno Armadio screen (est. €6,000-8,000)
and in various tables – like his unique, hand-lacquered wooden Grand Coromandel
coffee-table with golf-leaf top (est. €25,000-30,000). Such an impressive Fornasetti
ensemble has rarely been seen at auction.
Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988)
Grand Coromandel
Table basse
Bois peint à la main et laqué, transfert à la feuille d’or
Exemplaire unique
Date de création : vers 1959
Exposition : «The Secret of Fornasetti»
at The Hospital Gallery, London, 2006
H 46 x L 100 x P 50 cm
25 000 / 30 000 €
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FONTANA ARTE: A Glassmaker’s Identity
The Fontana Arte workshops, founded by Luigi Fontana and Gio Ponti in 1932, have
produced much that is best in art glass design. They researched how to translate glass’s
potential into new forms of expression and functional use – as with Max Ingrand’s
1961 brass, glass and painted metal Fontana Arte ceiling-light (est. €16,000-22,000).
This masterpiece is one of Ingrand’s landmark works, and has been reproduced in
numerous works as a textbook example of outstanding glass- and metal-work. A
Max Ingrand table-lamp is another sale highlight; its circular form would become
his hallmark (est. €20,000-30,000). Another remarkable Fontana Arte piece is
an amazing floor-lamp by Pietro Chiesa (1882-1948), that is also part-vase. Chiesa
shared the artistic direction of Fontana Arte with Gio Ponti from 1932; this is a work
of extreme modernity combining wood, fabric and frosted crystal.
The rest of the sale offers a choice of original pieces infused with the PIASA spirit,
like a Max Ingrand floor-lamp with coloured glass shades (est. €20,000-30,000);
a pair of Regent fauteuils by Marco Zanuso (est. €8,000-10,000); and an important
Carlo Scarpa floor-lamp (est. €25,000-30,000).
Gio Ponti (1891-1979) was one of the most influential Italian architects and designers
of the 20th century, whose work had revolutionary impact and played a key role in
the renewal of post-war Design. The sale features his important wood and glazed
ceramic table (est. €12,000-18,000), and a velvet-upholstered corner canapé with a
characteristic shape (est. €10,000-15,000).
Also of note are a Stella ceiling-light by Angelo Lelli (est. €14,000-18,000); items from
the Sestante Collection, led by a 1950s vase by Ettore Sottsass (est. €12,000-18,000); a
Siderale vase by Flavio Poli (est. €10,000-15,000); and a pair of Giuletta armchairs by
BBPR (est. €8,000-12,000).
Italian Design embodies the fruitful collaboration between the country’s finest
artists and craftsmen, with savoir-faire and creativity joyfully mingling amidst forms
of timeless elegance.
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Piero Chiesa (1892-1948)
Lampadaire
Placage de bois, tissu et verre satiné
Edition Fontana Arte
Date de création : années 1940
H 187 x D 70 cm
Bibliographie : Franco Deboni, Fontana
Arte Gio Ponti, Pietro Chiesa, Max Ingrand,
Umberto Allemandi & C, vignette 117
30 000 / 40 000 €
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Gio Ponti (1891-1979) et Massimo Campigli (1885-1971)
Table basse
Bois et céramique émaillée
Pièce unique
Date de création : années 1950
H 48 x L 127 x P 50 cm
12 000 / 18 000€
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Gio Ponti (1891-1979)
Rocking Chair
Noyer, textile
Edition Cassina
Date de création : 1955
H 95 x L 65 x P 106 cm
10 000 / 15 000€
7
BBPR
Giuletta
Paire de fauteuils
Métal et velours
Edition Artflex
Date de création : 1958
H 85 cm x 82 cm x 82 cm
Bibliographie : Giuliana Gramigna ,
Repertorio del design italiano, p. 56
8 000 / 12 000€
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Flavio Poli (1900-1984)
Siderale
Vase
Verre à décor d’une large murrine
concentrique Seguso Vetri d’Arte
Date de création : vers 1954
10 000 / 15 000 €
9
Travail Italien
Important sofa
Textile et laiton
Date de création vers 1960
Estimation 20 000 / 25 000€
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Max Ingrand (1908-1969)
Lampadaire
Laiton, verre opaque et verre coloré
Edition Fontana Arte
Date de création : vers 1953
H 192 cm
20 000 / 30 000€
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Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988)
Interno armadio
Paravent
Bois et laiton
Date de création : 1950
Edition limitée à une trentaine d’exemplaires
H 200 x L 200 cm
Bibliographie : Fornasetti, The Complete Universe,
Rizzoli New-York, fig. 18, p. 426
6 000 / 8 000 €
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Design department
Cédric Morisset
François Epin
Cindy Chanthavong
Upcoming auctions
> April 15, 6pm
Italian desin
> May 21, 6pm
Decorative Art & French design
> June 3, 7 pm
Contemporary design
> June 11, 6pm
Arts & Crafts
> June 11, 6pm
Textile Art
> July 5, 3pm - Monaco
« RIVIERA » Design
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