Pre Sale Press Release

October 17, 2015

Kamelot Auction House will host their annual Mid Century Furniture and Design sale on Saturday October 17th in their Philadelphia showroom. The sale features a breadth of twentieth century art and design including mid-century modern furniture along with Art Deco, Jansen, French, Italian, and English designs. Prominent artisans are handsomely represented with pieces seen from masters such as Gaston Poisson, Jules Leleu, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Louis van Teeffelen, Eames, Gio Ponti, and Milo Baughman to name among many others.

Leading the sale are three oil on canvas paintings by American abstract modernist painter Ludwig Sander which were consigned directly by the family of the artist. Ludwig Sander was born in Staten Island, New York, in 1906 and studied in Paris and Munich, as well as in New York under Elmer Brown and Alexander Archipenko. By the late 1950's, Sander had settled into his style, creating works composed of geometric abstractions, with planes of color traversed by horizontal and vertical lines. Sander died in New York in 1975, but his work remains in numerous collections around the country. The three works in Kamelot’s sale include lot 183, measuring 20.5” x 22.5” and estimated at $1,000-$2,000, lot 184 titled “Georgics XII” measuring 33” x 37” and estimated at $2,000-$4,000, and the largest of the three works, lot 185, measuring a whopping 80” x 44” and estimated at $10,000-$15,000.

Mid-century modern furniture and decorative arts hit the mark in a gamut of pieces from seating, tables, credenzas, and desks, to lighting and rugs. The auction features a wonderful selection of dining chairs in a variety of period styles. French highlights include lot 121, a very good set of six French leather oak dining chairs attributed to Charles Dudouyt circa 1940 estimated at $1,000-$1,500, lot 97, a set of fourteen French labeled "Pierre Counot Blandin" dining chairs circa 1960 estimated at $1,000-$1,500, and lot 104, a rare set of twelve elegant French mahogany dining chairs by Gaston Poisson circa 1950 estimated at $1,500-$2,500. Some other noteworthy choices include a very interesting set of six Belgium dining chairs each having wood panel back over woven leather seat all supported on tapered legs circa 1940 (lot 120A, $400-$800), a set of six mid-century modern Danish style dining chairs circa 1960 (lot 212, $600-$900), and an interesting set of six mid-century modern dining chairs in the manner of Hans Wegner circa 1960 (lot 408, $800-$1,200).

This auction includes some of the best seating that Kamelot has offered including dining chairs, benches, settees, stools, and the ever popular club chair. A total of eight Italian mid-century modern bronze and chrome bar stools with upholstered seats circa 1970 are presented in two lots; lot 231 estimated at $1,000-$1,500, and lot 232 estimated at $1,200-$1,800. Similar find include a good set of four Italian bronze mechanical bar stools circa 1960 (lot 230, $1,000-$1,500), and a set of four Bertoia chrome wire work bar stools with seat pads (lot 398, $200-$400). Club chairs come in a great variety of colors in this sale. An unusual pair of sky blue Italian mid-century modern club chairs circa 1960 come at an estimate of $1,200-$1,800 (lot 202), and a pair of stylish bright orange Italian upholstered club chairs raised on turned legs with bronze sabots circa 1960 are estimated at $800-$1,200 (lot 214). Several pairs of club chairs come with cow hide upholstery including lot 3, a pair of mid-century modern cowhide upholstered club chairs circa 1960 ($1,200-$1,800), and lot 211, a pair of stylish elongated cowhide upholstered club chairs having polished metal frames ($2,000-$3,000). Lot 412 and 413 each feature a pair of Kagan style upholstered mid-century modern club chairs having shaped back and flared arms circa 1960 and both pairs are expected to bring $1,500-$2,500. Also noteworthy are several Barcelona style pieces including lot 188, a rare size Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Barcelona daybed circa 1970 presented at $2,000-$3,000, and likewise, lot 190, a pair of original Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Barcelona chairs by Knoll circa 1970 expected to fetch $1,000-$2,000.

Kamelot has always been a great source for stylish and quality Art Deco furnishings, and this sale certainly proves just why. A nice selection of original Jules Leleu and Leleu style pieces will be offered in this sale. Lot 107 is a pair of French bronze and glass two-arm wall sconces by Jules Leleu circa 1950 estimated at $600-$900 and lot 140 is an Andre Leleu style rosewood sideboard having parquetry and mother of pearl inlaid doors circa 1940 estimated at $1,000-$1,500. Other Art Deco highlights include a very good French Art Deco exotic mahogany dining table having stepped top supported by six curving down swept posts and chrome bar (Lot 148, $1,200-$1,800), a pair of Rhulman style commodes having stepped ebonized top over over two blind serpentine front drawers (lot 137, $1,800-$2,400), and a French Art Deco mahogany table by Decoene having bronze trimmed top supported on double pedestal circa 1930 (lot 143, $1,000-$1,800). Two Art Deco store display cabinets from John Wannamaker Department Store circa 1920 will be offered (lots 158 and 159, $800-$1,200) along with a pair of French Art Deco mahogany store counters having a checkerboard design and the back sides fitted with drawers circa 1935 (lot 178 $1,500-$2,500).

Several lots will feature petrified wood tables to include three different pairs of petrified wood side tables having free edge top supported on chrome base (lot 45, $1,200-$1,800, lot 46, $1,200-$1,800, lot 47, $800-$1,200, and lot 48, $800-$1,200), two pairs of petrified wood stump form seats (lot 49, $500-$800 and lot 50, $600-$900), and a monumental petrified wood slab bench having natural inclusions and free form edge estimated at $2,000-$3,000 (lot 51).

Also offered in the sale will be a great selection of lighting to include sconces, lamps, chandeliers, torchieres, lanterns, candelabrum, and more. Two kinetic light sculptures by Dante Leonelli will be offered in this sale including lot 208, a pair of medium size neon domes made of Oroglas acrylic housed with neon and argon tubes circa 1970 expected to bring $1,000-$2,000, and lot 209, a large neon dome made of Oroglas acrylic housed with neon and argon tubes circa 1970 expected to earn $2,000-$4,000. Another interesting showpiece is lot 267, an interesting lot of two German mid-century modern chrome and faceted glass sputnik style lights circa 1970 ($600-$900), along with lot 268, a labeled "Shlomi Haziza" multicolored lucite/acrylic table top Morpheus sculpture raised on plinth base ($300-$600). Estimated at $600-$900, lot 170 is a nice Art Deco bronze chandelier with milk glass windows and similarly, lot 174 is an Art Deco nickel over bronze and iron lantern, the iron frame having figural bronze panels estimated at $700-$900. Some notable chandeliers include an Italian mid-century modern chandelier circa 1970 having ceiling mount chrome plate with graduated glass cylinders with silvered ball decoration (lot 277, $400-$600), an Italian mid-century modern chandelier having eight arms with multiple colored glass shades framing central light circa 1970 (lot 322, $500-$700), an elegant Italian mid-century modern brass chandelier circa 1970 (lot 325, $800-$1,200), and a Fontana Arte glass and nickeled bronze mid-century modern five arm chandelier circa 1960 (lot 422, $800-$1,200).