Pre Sale Press Release

January 30, 2016

Kamelot Auction House will hail in the New Year with what they’re best at, mid-century and design, with an auction to take place on Saturday, January 30th in Philadelphia. This sale features a breadth of twentieth century design including mid-century modern furniture in addition to Art Deco, Jansen, French, and Italian designs.

Prominent Italian artisans and makers are handsomely represented in this sale with pieces seen from masters such as Gio Ponti, Ico Parisi, Osvaldo Borsani, Paolo Piva, Paolo Buffa, Carlo Di Carli, Bavorier and Toso, Silvio Cavatorta and Marco Zanuso to name among many others. Standout examples from the acclaimed Milanese architect and designer Paolo Buffa include a rosewood sideboard circa 1950, nearly identical to one that was sold at Philips Auction in 2008 (lot 49, $3,000-$5,000), an Italian sideboard having banded top over four curvilinear framed line inlaid doors circa 1950 (lot 50, $1,000-$1,500), and an Italian multi drawer commode with interesting brass hardware by Paolo Buffa for Arrighi circa 1960 (lot 39, $1,000-$1,500). Lot 41 and 43, both a pair of upholstered Italian club chairs circa 1950 are estimated at $1,500-$2,500, and likewise is a pair of low slung Italian upholstered club chairs attributed to Paolo Buffa circa 1950 (lot 40, $1,000-$1,500).

Lot 21 is a good mid-century modern walnut credenza circa 1960 attributed to Osvaldo Borsani ($1,200-$1,800), and lots 6 and 7 are both wrought iron and glass coffee tables with glass tops and multiple triangular bases attributed to Paolo Piva ($500-$800 each). A set of six mahogany dining chairs by Ico Parisi circa 1945 is predicted to sell for $1,000-$1,800 (lot 80), while a pair of restored club chairs attributed to Marco Zanuso circa 1950 is thought to fetch $2,000-$3,000 (lot 100).

A scope of lighting fixtures, comprising over sixty lots, will indeed bring further enthusiasm to the sale. Among the offerings is a Maison Jansen Empire style bronze chandelier circa 1950 estimated at $400-$600 (lot 318) and a Sputnik chandelier having central chrome sphere decorated with glass rods and multiple lights estimated at $800-$1,200 (lot 501). Expected to spur sizable competition amongst buyers is a collection of Murano glass lighting including a set of three Italian Murano glass wall sconces by Mazzega circa 1970 (lot 59, $300-$500) and likewise, a large ceiling mount Italian Murano glass chandelier by Mazzega circa 1970 (lot 60, $300-$500), as well as a good Murano glass floor lamp having butterscotch colored segments interconnected with bronze rings (lot 19, $600-$1,000). An excellent collection of Fontana Arte items is thought to earn significant interest with the most notable piece being a very good possibly unique size Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte hanging copper over bronze light (lot 68, $6,000-$8,000). Another great find is lot 69, a Fontana Arte glass and brass floor lamp estimated at $2,000-$3,000.

A small but select group of mirrors will be showcased, choice highlights include a pair of circular Regency style mirrors having distressed center mirror surrounded by bubble and star decorated beveled glass (lot 204, $1,500-$2,500), as well as a good gilt eglomise glass, wood and resin sunburst mirror in the manner of Line Vautrin (lot 266, $800-$1,200), and an interesting cobalt glass and gilt resin and wood sunburst mirror in the manner of Line Vautrin (lot 268, $800-$1,200).

A selection of Danish Modern will be available in the sale as well. Everything from a pair of Hans Wegner arm chairs circa 1960 (lot 348, $1,500-$2,500) to a very good set of six Niels O. Moller rosewood dining chairs circa 1960 (lot 354, $2,000-$3,000) are in the mix. Other highlights include a good pair of mid-century modern lounge chairs attributed to Finn Juhl circa 1960 (lot 352, $800-$1,200), and a set of six Danish rosewood dining room chairs with upholstered seats circa 1950 (lot 348B, $800-$1,200).

French furniture enthusiasts will be pleased to find a range of available offerings. Highlights among these are a good Maison Jansen giltwood carved and painted console table circa 1940 (lot 208, $2,000-$3,000), an interesting applied parquetry cabinet in the manner of Jean Michel Frank (lot 247, $2,000-$4,000), and a Maison Charles bronze coffee table having banded glass top supported on bronze horse head busts circa 1960 (lot 220, $1,000-$1,800).

Art Deco, a staple at Kamelot, is in no short supply either, with many fine pieces on offer. Lot 292A, estimated at $2,000-$3,000, is an Art Deco style cerused oak dining table with two leaves having parquetry top supported on two pedestals and wrought iron oval stretcher. Another exemplary Deco choice is lot 294, an interesting Art Deco ebonized bed circa 1930 is thought to fetch between $1,000-$1,800, along with accompanying nightstands (lot 295) which are estimated at $1,000-$1,500.

Aside from the mid-century staples are a number of lots of the more eccentric sort that will certainly garner attention from bidders; lot 185 is a very good signed and numbered Mario Gonzales figural bust sculpture of a woman with copper clad hair and applied butterfly ($100-$300), and is just one of many Mario Gonzales pieces in the sale. Among other unique finds is a pair of mid-century modern stylized birds made from horns and metal signed Hauy Pauiga circa 1970 (lot 390, $400-$600), a very fine two color abstract form of Persian glass signed by Dale Chihuly and numbered PP96 circa 1990 (lot 178, $400-$600), and an interesting signed and numbered Sergio Bustamante bronze horse mounted on plinth base, 36/100 (lot 187, $400-$600).

Lastly, among the Continental offerings is a Steinway and Sons satin ebony Model B piano with adjustable matching bench, known as the "Music Room Grand", serial #535450 estimated at $8,000-$12,000. This piano came from the living estate of American writer, pianist, and educator Harrison Gradwell Slater. Slater has written both fiction and non-fiction, meticulously researched, on the lives of Mozart and Chopin, with Night Music and Nocturne being the most notable of his works. In addition to his music and writing, Slater is artistic director and chairman of the Peabody Mason International Piano Competition (lot 309).