On 26 January, UK auction house Sworders is hosting its highly anticipated ‘Design’ sale. The live auction is being held exclusively online, which means those affected by government restrictions, or those based overseas, can browse and bid from the comfort and convenience of their homes without impact.
The design lots that comprise Sworders’ sale cover a vast range of design history, both in terms of media and function, as well as timeline. There is, however, an emphasis on Art Deco, with beautiful pieces that exemplify the movement in the spotlight, alongside design stars Jules Leleu, Peter Collingwood and Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson.
Jules Leleu (1883-1961) was a French furniture designer and Art Deco giant. The ten Leleu lots in Sworders’ sale represent one of the largest groups of pieces by the designer to come to market in recent years. They have been consigned by the Greek descendants of Celestine Galani, the wife of shipping magnate John Galani, who was a friend of Leleu. Based less than a mile away from the Maison Leleu, which was located at 65 Avenue Franklin Roosevelt in Paris, Celestine Galani commissioned Leleu to decorate her entire apartment at 81 Avenue Marceau in the 1940s.
Born into a family of artisans and artists in Boulogne-sur-Mer in Northern France, Leleu was one of the fathers of French Art Deco design. He exhibited at the prestigious Exposition des Arts Decoratifs in 1925, the event that gave Art Deco its name.
Among others, the present lots include a ‘Feux d’artifice’ (Fireworks) pattern rosewood and marquetry cabinet and commode, which are inlaid in ebony and mother-of-pearl marquetry and applied with gilt bronze. Similar in style is a cocktail cabinet, the most recognisable of all Art Deco furniture forms, which is inlaid with rosewood-parquetry veneers and a bouquet of flowers in ebony and mother-of-pearl. Offered as a single lot is a complete mahogany dining suite comprising a table, eight chairs and a monumental sideboard set with stylised floral gilt bronze mounts. Not to mention, there is a rosewood and marquetry games table on offer, with an inlaid chequerboard to the centre.
Peter Collingwood (1922-2008) was a British textile artist-weaver, placed at the cutting edge of weaving for fifty years. His ‘microgauze’ hangings pushed forward the ancient craft of weaving to create bold visual abstractions that are admired worldwide. He is represented in Sworders’ sale with a 1980s ‘microgauze’ linen and steel rod wall hanging. The work is titled M143.74 and dates from c. 1988.
The piece is to be sold with a facsimile of a letter dated 24 March 1989, which explains that it was a gift to the recipients ‘John & Madoka’ from the Japanese weaver Jun Tomita (b. 1951). Collingwood apologises for a delay in sending it: “I am afraid I have taken rather a long time to get it woven as I have been travelling in India. There is a nylon loop at the top of the hanging – so it only needs one nail in the wall to hang it from.”
Courtesy of a postscript, the letter also sheds a little light on the numerical titles that Collingwood gave his works. He writes: “The metal label [impressed Paul Collingwood M143.74] shows it is design M143 & that it is the 74th time I have woven this design”.
The design sale also includes a prime period from Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson’s oeuvre: an oak dining table and six chairs. The two lots were made for the Horlick family, who were producers of the famous malted milk drinks. Thompson provided office furniture for the landmark Horlicks factory in Slough in three batches, in 1930, 1936 and 1938, plus additional pieces for family members.
The table and chairs date to c. 1930 and were previously owned by Sir Peter James Cunliffe Horlick, 3rd Bt (1908-1958) and formed part of an auction of his estate in 1958, which is where the lots were acquired. The chairs each have mouse signatures to the legs and are all inscribed in different places with the letter ‘H’. The table has a 2.11m two-plank top and shaped sledge supports, with the mouse signature on the plinth.
A Thompson burr oak table, oak standard lamp and a stool also form part of the sale.
As a reminder, you have until 26 January to make the most of Sworders’ design sale. You’ll find more furniture and art, as well as decorative pieces, cars, glassware, silverware, posters and more, in the catalogue.
