LONDON – For the first time, Lyon & Turnbull will stage an auction devoted entirely to works of decorative art by the celebrated 20th century French designer Rene Lalique. Specialist Joy McCall curated the April 29 sale, which consists of 106 lots. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
Marquee items in the debut auction include a Lalique Victoire (Victory) mascot, or hood ornament, one of about 30 different styles that Lalique created in an era when car owners could install ornaments of their choice on the hoods of their automobiles. Designed circa 1928, the iconic Victoire piece, which depicts the screaming head of a woman with artfully trailing hair, carries an estimate of £8,000-£12,000. Other Lalique mascots featured in the auction are a topaz-molded Coq Nain (Dwarf Rooster), estimated at £1,500-£2,500, and a clear and frosted example of Chrysis, a figure of a female nude arching her back in ecstasy, estimated at £1,500-£2,500.
Perruches vase, estimated at £12,000-£18,000
Leading the generous selection of vases is an example of the beloved, lively Perruches (Parakeets) vase, which the French master designed circa 1919. This version of the vase features cased opalescent and blue stained intaglio and is estimated at £12,000-£18,000. Also included is a Tuileries vase, a design that dates to 1930, here offered in a handsome shade of cobalt blue and estimated at £8,000-£12,000, as well as a Papillons (Butterflies) vase, with a design dating to 1936. This particular Papillons vase is rendered in clear, frosted, and stained blue glass and is estimated at £3,000-£5,000.
Le Lys (The Lily) perfume bottle, estimated at £500-£700
Choices in the scent vessel group include a Le Lys (The Lily) perfume bottle, designed in 1922. It features clear, frosted, and sepia stained intaglio that gives it a markedly delicate appearance. It is estimated at £500-£700. A Dahlia large scent bottle, a Rose scent bottle, and a Psyka scent bottle all feature identical estimates of £300-£500.
Several attractive timepieces appear in the sale, among them a semi-circular Moineaux (Sparrows) clock estimated at £1,500-£2,500; a square Inseparables clock estimated at £2,000-£4,000; and two examples of Lalique’s Naiades (Naiads) clock, one in opalescent and blue stained molded glass and the other in clear and frosted engraved glass. Both have square cases and both carry estimates of £2,000-£4,000.
The current rate of exchange between the British pound (GBP) and the U.S. dollar is 1 = $1.39.
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