Snake Auction Observer 013
Double length: Twice the auctions. Baughman, Agnoli, Perriand, Venturi, three couches under $1000
Snake AO13 back on delivery— once again from Paris’ 10th, which is bereft of both locals and tourists. Only me and the garbagement, and I am getting a decent amount of work done.
10 items on LiveAuctioneers ending this week that are are undervalued, or affordable—auctions ending soonest first. (Instructions on bidding at end) — some extra items this week what with last week being off and a bumper crop of great auctions ending before Sunday. Feedback is welcome — if you’re looking for more of a certain style, hit me up.
Auctions:
Three-seat chrome (attr.) Baughman bench, NYC in-house shipping: Chrome velvet bench not too far off from the Eames airport lounger I wrote about the other week; though more refined and less harsh, because of the velvet and shape of the chairs. Still, very theoretical. Attributed to Baughman, may not be his… I can’t tell, frankly. Only has sold before, north of $3K. $100, ending immediately; attribution doesn’t matter if you like it and it’s under 4 figures.
Agnoli daybed 711 sofa for Cinova, NJ: Everything from the peloton of Italo design from ‘61 to ‘77 (as in from designers who may not be so well known enough in America to have their own solo exhibits) is worth sitting and contemplating; this Agnoli piece has its guts out like most of his work (his glass desk, 255 lamp), and I think is his best. Those wild hinges… Price history is volatile: $1,200 three years ago, $3,000 lately. Many have sold, many colors. Deal at $400
Lissoni Divan sofa, NJ: A lower tier and less functional (not a sofabed) version of the above, but mid 90s Cassina and therefore excellent; Lissoni’s seating history is out of pocket, the Trix being a personal favorite. Should sell cheap; Lissoni lots always seem to pass. Pay no more than $1200, at $275 now
Casati Dado lamps, NJ: Cesare Casati also designed the pill lamps (you’ve seen them) and the Perlota lamp, a personal favorite. Produced for Luce Martinelli around 1970… Like most great Italian lamps, this one doesn’t appear to give off any light whatsoever. Does it matter? They remind me of Brionvega clock radios, which were featured in the first iteration of Snake seven years ago and which will be featured in a book of my collected newsletters on SHINING LIFE PRESS that will be for sale this year. One Dado sold for $300, another passed; Pelotas go for more and the pill lamps much much more. $125
Colombo Acrilica lamp, NJ: What can be said about the Acrilica that hasn’t already been said by this author in a previous newsletter that examined its designer Joe Colombo’s entire body of work? This lamp is one of his major pieces, and while it’s still in production, you can’t buy it new for under $3,000. This one looks to be in great shape, and is said by the auctioneer to be from 1981, the most important year in the history of western civilization, and is also therefore just old enough to have some patina. Many bidders watching, it may go for a lot. If you can’t track down a piece of the true cross, or an Immortal shirt from the early ‘90s this is the next best thing. $400
Michele De Luchi Burgundy table, NJ: Grab bag auction from Rago (incl. the Casati above) thick with Memphis heaters, this table jumping out because of its price and availability: why not turn this thing into a kitchen table or desk and abuse it? With Memphis’ seeming swoon lately—it’s less popular now than a few years ago, though popularity is all theoretical, since there is much more discussion than furniture ownership—you can. $600 with mucho bidders
Eames Lounger, NJ: Wrote about the Lounger at length in the last email, and so am alerting readers of its $1,900 price tag—on the border of buy and a decent deal. House also has a pair of office chairs for $500 and some assorted LCW chairs for cheap.
Magistretti Eclisse lamps (pair), NJ: Very simply two perfect lamps by Vico Magistretti for Artemide, won an Italian design award when they dropped. The most one has sold for is $400, a new one runs $125ish, which is what Rago is asking for the pair now.
Venturi custom desk, NJ: Maybe the most undervalued auction item I have seen since starting this newsletter, or at least the most apeshit. A custom Robert Venturi desk…. Bob designed the Guild House, the London Gallery addition, is responsible for a great set of chairs (Queen Annes for Knoll) and wrote a good book on Las Vegas. Not a giant… a demigod… this commission is from the early 70s, and was probably for someone who worked at the IMF or for the World Bank. Unassuming, looks a bit 1930s which is perfect for RV; not many people were doing this aesthetic then, most got to it later. The inaugural Snake Stone Cold Unsurpassed Peerless Double Bolted Lock of the Month. $25
Panton for Poulsen panthella floor lamp, LA: No one better than a Dane at making a lamp like this, thousands resemble it but Verner Panton’s is the genuine artifact. The long neck is nicer than the short table one. Went for $2K a decade ago, half that this year. House has a motley collection, including lots of smoked glass and lucite furniture (for a good price), and some books that may have belonged to Christian Audigier, the Ed Hardy guy. $175
Full Danish bedroom set, LA: Queen size bed, the rest isn’t as nice, but it’s $550 for everything and I am sure you can sell the mirror for around 3-4 and make some money back. Just a great deal if you live in LA.
Jack in the Pulpit Stuart Abelman vase, NY: From ‘88, Abelman worked in glass, I like this one most since it looks like a chair. Reminiscent of the lamps displayed by Jim Walrod at Patrick Parrish ages ago. Except not a lamp. A revelatory exhibit that brought up about 1,000 questions. $100
Bellini Duc Landeau sofa (Cassina), Nazareth PA: It’s the editorial philosophy of this newsletter to place any sofa for auction that’s not bad and under $2,000 to show how broken the market is for furniture. Even a sofa as middling as this one is both cheaper and much nicer than literally anything anyone can get in any store or online or new. It is bananas. It is pure market failure, but there is so much out there through alternate channels. But buying on LA isn’t that hard.
I don’t mean to pick on sellers of new furniture, or this sofa, though, or Bellini… I just think there are more opportunities and variety in used furniture to not feel disrespected by money. Fungible furniture is the path forward… buy a decent sofa (like this) and sell it when you find a better one. We do this with clothes — time to expand to furniture. All this said, the Ducs Landeaus sell for a lot ($2-3K); people like them. $,1000
Piva Alanda sofa for B&B, PA: Same house, even better. Past ones sold for $1,700 last year and $1,200 two years ago, with a few scattered ones going for more. Piva may be best known for designing the Alanda table which I am sure you’ve seen; the Oliver lamp is a favorite. House has hits, including an apeshit Adrian Pearsall tube chair, some Eames and Baughman, much wood, a harsh Curtis Jere lamp. $800
Rosselli confidential sofa, PA: One of the best sofas ever designed, not far off from the Soriana or the Anfibio, frankly I like it just as much. Prices are all over the place for this thing. Rosselli designed mucho plastic furniture. $1,200, worth much more.
Quick Hits:
Nicola L (attr.) Magazine Rack, PA: Head-shaped rack from Nicola L, similar to her Tête Cultivée series… close in wood as Les Amants which is her cabinet with the guy and the chick’s head facing each other… except doesn’t seem like her work. Faces are longer and more masculine than her things, wood grain is off. Still, worth a look. $475
Verner Panton Welle 3 bench for Verpan, PA: Really cool Matta Malitte-looking seating system wave couch, which Verner did himself on his vanity label; the 3 bench is the best one, the others are too bourgeois. Haven’t seen one for sale before, $325
Original Componibili storage, PA: Anna Castelli Ferrieri’s classic storage system but original since it doesn’t have the black bottom. Also has patina. New ones are expensive. Can’t do better, $150, will go for more.
Fussell stacked drawers, PA: Just as good as the Componibili, only not re-released so slightly more niche. These never sell on LA but this one’s at $400, is in a wild color, and is tall; will go for a lot.
No Euro Wild Card this week due to overabundance of stateside auctions
Odds and Ends:
Bruno Rey stacking stools $600 (several) NJ
Charlotte Perriand wood coatrack (for Les Arcs, pine), $600 with flat shipping
Gerald McCabe modular bench (mid modern), IHS, NYC $100
Sonneman Vienna table lamp (harsh), IHS NYC $100
Cardin burl credenza, PA, $500 (house also has similar McCobbs)
Russell Wright pottery dinnerware (40 pieces, white and brown), NJ $10
Loewy ebonized dressers (for Mengel, 50s), NY $100
Paulin Pumpkin sofa (white, beautiful, for Ligne Roset), PA $850
Elio De Franco wild-ass rocker chair (for Zanotta) PA $500
Thanks for reading, and good luck bidding.
Snake
Other work: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-JLRt0Ec6gZBm50hATYCYmLctnF9GhVijoEbam50JSw/edit?overridemobile=true
How to bid: Sign up for Liveauctioneers with a credit card ahead of the auction, register for that auction on the item page — button/prompt’s on every auction pg — pre-bid. Registrations take a day or so.
Bidding is live in a pop-up window, most prices jump during auctions. Both app and website have good UX. Sometimes items go for a lot, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes lots of watchers means something; sometimes not. Not much different from eBay. Because of buyers’ premiums (~25%), and freight, expect to pay over these prices. When you win you have ~a week to get the item. Houses may recommend third party shippers; some ship themselves. If so, In-House Shipping is noted on the page. Picking it up yourself is cheapest.
As with anything, insane steals are rare, nice deals are occasional, and fair prices are frequent. Respond if more questions.
One small correction for you. The Bellini sofa for Cassina is called the "Landeau" I owned one a few years back and the zipper sides and little pin-in frame make it a really fun, modular design. I was constantly changing it up making it into two settees, an L, a big island, three seater and a single seat, etc.. Lots of possibilities for that one.