Sotheby's to Offer an Interior of Furniture by Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann - New York, 16 December
On 16 December 2010 in New York, Sotheby’s will hold a dedicated sale of an interior of furniture by Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, the legendary French Art Deco atelier. The nine masterworks were commissioned by an American family and this auction represents the first time in over ten years that such a complete interior of works by Ruhlmann will be offered at auction. The interior will be on exhibition at Sotheby’s New York galleries beginning 11 December, alongside the sale of Important 20th Century Design.
Even more remarkable is the archive of documents preserved by the family that outlines the history of the commission. Correspondence with the atelier traces the customizing of each work, bills of sale and original certificates signed by Ruhlmann. The works have been in storage for nearly a quarter of a century, and present an extremely rare opportunity for collectors.
The December sale is led by the “Egyptien” Sécretaire à Abbatant from 1929 (est. $300/500,000). The extraordinary modernist work was the second example of the model produced by Ruhlmann at the time of execution in September 1929. It is distinguished by the decorated surface of the dropfront, which on first glance appears to be tortoiseshell. However, forensic herpetologists have examined the work and concluded that it is celluloid, heightened with red pigment.
