There's not much funky 20th century furniture in Ireland - but you could pick up something cool in a Christie's sale. Lauren Mulhall reports
There was a time when livingroom floors were covered in thick shag pile carpet and walls were adorned with brightly coloured Andy Warhol-inspired pop art. The kitchen was loaded' up with chunky chrome appliances and bright orange, egg-shaped chairs were all the rage. It looks as though that time has come around again.
When it comes to furnishing the home, everything old is new again. Retro is back, baby, and a growing number of people are turning back to the glory days of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s for inspiration, replacing heavy dark traditional pieces with lightweight, edgy designs, often in striking, bold colours.
This trend has given a rebirth to the fashions of the 20th century from the 1920s through to the 1980s and a large selection of these eclectic furniture styles will be auctioned next week in London at Christie's Interior - Modern Design sale to be held on September 28th.
Many of the items in the sale are classic pieces that would be hard to find in Irish auction houses, simply because they were not as readily available in Ireland during the post war years. The scarcity of such collectables has resulted in a renewed interest from Irish buyers for various items from the art deco, modernist and contemporary movements.
Christie's 20th Century Decorative Arts director Simon Andrews says some of the designs in the sale have remained in production for a long time.
"This can be interpreted as representative of the successful appeal of that particular design," he says. For example, Arne Jacobsen's famous Egg chair of 1958 has been in continual production since that date. There will be subtle detail or engineering differences over the decades of production, and our specialists are available to discuss the age of a particular edition."
One of the attractions of retro design is its potential to add a splash of excitement to an otherwise dull or stark room. Some of the more colourful items up for auction are Pierre Paulin's 1967 Red Tongue Chair, which has a pre-auction estimate of €880-€1,200, the 2000 multi-coloured Gaetano Peace Chair (€3,700-€4,400) and the yellow, brown and orange striped Grasshopper Chair, designed by Eero Saarinen in 1947 (€740-€1,200).
Other items with a distinct retro flair are the deep red Barber Osgerby 2000 Day Bed in wool upholstery (€300) and the Arne Jacobson 1958 egg chair in orange (€2,200-€2,900).
A vintage piece with a more subtle appeal is the Robert Heritage dining suite (€1,200-€1,800), designed in about 1965 and made of rosewood. The suite includes an oval dining table and six dining chairs.
Other classic pieces include a pair of 1929 Mies Van Der Rohe Tugendaht chairs (€440-€730), a 1935 Josef Frank walnut Vitrine Cabinent (€1,500-€2,200) and Arne Jacobsen's 1969 set of six seagull chairs (€4,400-€5,800).
For quirkier items that are destined to be conversation-starters, Jorgen Hovelskov's 1968 Harp Chair in beech and flagline (€440-€580), Andre Dubreuil's 1988 gilt metal Spine Chair (€880-€1,200) and Michele De Lucchi's 1984 continental table (€740-€880) would be ideal.
Alvar Aalto's 1930 convertible sofa in hide upholstery (€2,200-€2,900) might also appeal to those with a taste for the unconventional.
Andrews says while some buyers may prefer to concentrate on items that are in very good condition, others may prefer a worn chair, for example, reupholstered in a fabric of their choice.
"My personal preference is to concentrate upon items that are in at least 70 per cent good original condition. However, in many cases I would be willing to consider sympathetic restoration."
Various sculptures, ceramics, metalworks, and lighting will also be up for auction at The Interior Sale.
For 20th century fashion enthusiasts, there will be a range of clothing and accessories on sale, from high fashion worn by 1920s flappers to the 1980s sculptured suits in op art shades. Items include little black dresses of varied styles and cuts, colourful 1960s daywear, flowing 1970s bohemian dresses and glamorous sequinned evening numbers. There will also be a selection of designer handbags and jewellery on offer.
A Christie's spokesperson says the prices on the items are conservative.
