Snake Auction Observer 014
Venturi, Sottsass, Vitsoe/Rams, Judd, Grand Central Oyster bar & more
Snake AO14 live once more from Paris: pretty good week of auctions. 10 items on LiveAuctioneers ending this week, undervalued and affordable—auctions ending soonest first. Instructions on bidding at end. Feedback is welcome — if you’re looking for a certain style or piece, hit me up.
Housekeeping/news:
Several readers have bid and won items the last couple weeks. Sick! If you do so, let me know. If you want any LA tips, etc., message me.
Moshe Safdie, the architect, is donating his archives to my alma mater, McGill University. Safdie designed that modular apartment from the stepbrothers ice skating movie, he also worked heavily in glass. Growing up his buildings defined the city I grew up in; they’re probably the only interesting ones in Ottawa. Except for the one art deco building across the street from my friend Matt’s old apartment and sister’s old apartment and cat corner to the Iraqi embassy that was abandoned on the eve of the Second Gulf War. They just left one night and threw all their flags in the dumpster. It was crazy. My favorite building of his is the Salt Lake City Public Library.
Multiple people have sent me the Red Scare Ray Peat episode podcast (thanks) and I listened to the first few minutes where they touch on his research. I agree that his writing is impenetrable; this is the first mention of this obvious fact in the totality of discussion about Peat’s work. Almost all public understanding of Peat occurs through some sort of medium (either a message board or an unsanctioned interpreter), often in hushed tones. This must be part of what lends Dr. P such a sacramental aura. I turned the show off when they began talking about the other guy; if they return to the topic, let me know.
Livers are back on the Nando’s menu, though without gizzards; not that good.
Auctions:
Sonneman eyeball swivel lamp, Pittsburgh: Bob S. has either one lamp or hundreds, half of which are this eyeball, though not many made as floor lamps. Another RS floor lamp is going for $150 (the orbiter design, ending tomorrow, out of LA). Prices vary, but eyeballs don’t go for much, orbiters go for more. House also has an autographed Olajuwon jersey that were I writing about it would be the Snake Lock of the Week, but I’m not. Also a couple of Grace Hewell jugs. $90
Donald Judd Calvin Klein table, Il., IHS: Many people have also sent me the photo screencaps of Kim Kardashian and a Donald Judd table—a great table. It was just a matter of time before the hyper-rich (her, anyone) began being vocal about intentional furniture. In fact it is crazy it has taken this long. Why her and Judd? I don’t know. She always seems to be wearing monochrome low-energy-colored clothing, and so much of his furniture is very low energy. Like Jeremy Scott and his Memphis collection. I do wonder, though: Should people loft jabs at her late entry to furniture if they don’t have any good furniture themselves? If only someone enterprising did the work of selecting the most important and affordable pieces of furniture easily purchased each week and made it all available in a newsletter. Then you wouldn’t need a cultural empire to have some nice stuff in your house. In any event, this DJ table was picked for the CK store by Jon Pawson, the architect who designed it. The store opened in ‘95 and had a real foreboding layout, it was one of the first oppressive minimalist stores, very regal, in tune with the aesthetic she’s going for. Table is from ‘88, made in ‘95 with a stamp. None have sold on LA, usually Judd stuff you have to know someone or buy it on Sotheby’s. Otherwise it can be fugazi. Can’t front on this, it’s untouchable. Seller has two. $5,000, ending immediately.
Venturi Chippendale, Queen Anne chairs, Il, IHD: House has four ending immediately, this Chippendale monochrome the most expensive, starkest and least representative. The two Queen Annes and the other Chip are going for less. Auction also features a couple Frank Lloyd Wright daybeds, the CK tables above, Haring stuff, a cool Paul Evans mirror, and a bound volume of John Hersey’s Hiroshima with screenprints from Jacob Lawrence. Wow! These sell around $2,000. $1,300
Ernesto Gismondi Sintesi lamp/Adalberto Dal Lago Farstar lamp, Il., IHS: Two perfect Italian lamps from ‘76, the Sintesi (on the left) a bit more immediate and available new if you look, though this one’s old. The Farstar is almost a toy, and is harder to find. Both don’t seem very bright, both are at $150, which is less than they go for elsewhere, esp. the Dal Lago.
Panton Innovation phantom chair, Chicago IHS: Eating my words on Panton, who I crapped on a tiny bit last week; this is a funner chair than the Welle 3, and simpler. Not killer but nice in person so long as it’s not the best thing in your place. None have sold on LA in six years. House has a couple more one in white (better, I think), the Pee Wee Herman chair with five fingers, a couple cheap Scandinavian vases (always great), not much else. $200
Bocca lip sofa, Chicago: Last one from this auction ending Thursday, the same couch is in the ladies’ room at Grand Central Oyster bar, or maybe its portico; I wouldn’t know as I’ve never been in there. Over the last 12 months on LA these sold between 2 and 5 large; on 1stDibs they go between 10 and 300K. Needs a real cleaning, but still a deal at $1,000
Department store mirror, no brand, Texas: Not sure how I found this, no story behind it, just big, plain utilitarian mirror, and three paneled, which is tough to find. Would do well in an otherwise more… immediately designed room. Even the worst and most boring mirrors are expensive; shipping might stink, though it’s close to the Metroplex. Look at yourself as you watch the Dallas Cowboys lose. $125
Cassina chrome table, SC, IHS: Totally of the moment table (chrome, marble, curves), designed I think by Mike McCarthy, apparently from the 60s, evoking an aesthetic that was to come. Nice and held back as befitting many Cassina pieces. Not many of these have sold on LA. House has an LC2 sofa in baby blue (weird), an expensive and amazing Bellini table for very cheap, some OK glassware, and pretty much nothing else. $70
Dieter Rams chair, Queens: Never see this masterpiece with this upholstery, and never seen this one local. Dieter Rams, who designed everything, but mostly trinkets, made this 620 chair for Vitsoe in the 60s, house says it’s from the ‘70s, which checks out. Auction is full of great of-the-moment stuff, pretty judiciously selected, including a perfect small Italian table (can’t determine the designer… doesn’t matter), a Robert Venturi grandma plate (not cheap), a Vignelli lamp, assorted paper. $400
Odds and ends/quick hits:
Thonet postmodern dining set (insane, ending ASAP), $500, IHS
Panton Vitra heart chair, Il, IHD $750
Contemporary Italian ALF desk/file cabinet/cabinets (office suite), LA $450
Saarinen tulip table (real), $300, CT
Rei Kawakubo chair $2,000, Queens
Four Sottsass bowls (for Medici, ‘80s), $150, Queens
Bid hard — and thanks for reading.
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.
I don't care where it was, there's nothing justifying the price of that DJ table.
But that department store mirror is a must.