Auction
When: Wednesday 30 July 2014 at 6pm
Where: Woollahra Hotel Function Room, 116 Queen Street, Woollahra, Sydney

Viewing
When: Saturday 19 to Wednesday 30 July 2014 from 11am to 5pm
Where: Shapiro Gallery, 162 Queen St, Woollahra, and 400 Oxford Street, Paddington

Revered as one of the best auction houses for mid-century design in Australia, Shapiro has once again come up with the goods. The forthcoming July 30 auction boasts a collection of six (to be sold individually) Josef Hoffmann (Austrian, 1870-1956), Kubus Sofa.

Formerly located in the corporate foyer of Governor Philip Tower the Kubus was designed in 1910, 
manufactured by Wittmann, Möbelwerkstätten, Austria, c. in 1980, and are estimated to fetch $2,000-3,000 each. For lovers of classic mid-century your heart will start racing at the thought of the exceptionally well preserved collection of Mr Howie that includes Arne Jacobsen Eggs (est $4,000-$6,000 and $5,000-$7,000).

There is also a pair of ‘Sirocco’ Lounge Chairs from Arne Norell (est $800-$1200) plus a Alvar Aalto Lounge Chair (est $2,000-$3,000) as just a taste of the better known highlights. That said, Andrew Shapiro’s eye is exceptional and the auction catalogue is well worth examining closely.

A Philippe Starck Flat Egg Table for example has an estimate of $400-$600, while a grant Featherston Space Chair in green velvet could not be more lovely at an estimated $800 – $1200. Or perhaps one of the other 5 Featherston pieces will catch your eye.

Moreover, the sale also includes a magnificent collection of O. Noel Coulson furniture from the Toorak house of Mary Lipshut. For historical collectors this is a veritable treasure trove of hidden masterworks such as the 1958 Loveseat (manufactured by S. Andrewartha Furniture Manufacturers, Richmond, Melbourne, limed oak, blue upholstered seat and end roll 120 x 53 x 53cm) with an estimate of $600-$800 or the two door low cabinet, also from 1958 with an estimate of $1500 to $2500 (manufactured by S. Andrewartha Furniture Manufacturers, Richmond, Melbourne, limed oak of rectangular form, having two central long drawers flanked by cupboard doors, splayed feet, minor loss to veneer on one drawer 57 x 167 x 40cm).

Coulson, while a prolific and highly regarded interior designer of mid-century Melbourne, has all but vanished from the history of Australian design. There is however an increasing interest in his work and this could be the opportune moment to secure one of his pieces. Shapiro have done an exceptional job of providing an historical frame for both Coulson and Lipshut House (Architects: Edward Billson and Partners).

For Clarice Cliff fans there is an amazing private collection on offer with works ranging from a Small ‘Goldstone Bizarre’ Vase with an estimate of $80- $120 (Goldstone’ pattern, printed factory marks to base ‘Hand Painted Goldstone Bizarre by Clarice Cliff Newport Pottery England’, raised number 565 8/8, c. 1936 (A/F)) to a magnificent ‘Fantasque’ Tankard Coffee Pot est $400-$600 (‘Broth’ pattern, printed factory marks to base ‘Hand Painted Fantasque by Clarice Cliff Wilkinson England’, stamped ‘Lawleys Norfolk Pottery in Stoke’) and an exceptional Biarritz Royal Staffordshire ‘Bizarre’ Dinner Set with an $800-$1200 estimate (green and yellow banded pattern, printed factory marks to base, impressed ’34’, two platters, two lidded tureens, four dinner plates, six soup plates, six dessert plates, twelve side plates, six cups, six saucers, sauce boat, creamer, sugar bowl (A/F)(47))

Lighting, while not excessive is very well chosen with examples from R. Carruthers, Brevettato (2 Leuka Flip Top Lamps 1970 est$100- $200), Vico Magistretti (2 Eclisse Lamps, 1967, est $200-$300) and Arne Jacobsen (an AJ standing lamp, 1960, est $500-$700 and a pair of AJ table lamps, 1959, est $400-$600).

Auction Items

LOT 029, Clarice Cliff

LOT 029
Clarice Cliff
‘Bizarre’ Eva Crofts for Clarice Cliff Coffee Set, c.1934
‘Field Flowers’ pattern, ‘Bonjour’ shape, printed factory marks to base ‘Designed by Eva Crofts produced in Bizarre by Clarice Cliff Wilkinson England’, six cups, six saucers, coffee pot, creamer, sugar bowl (A/F) (15)
EST.$1,200 – $1,800

LOT 027, Clarice Cliff

LOT 027
Clarice Cliff
‘Bizarre’ Vase
‘Latona’ tree pattern, shape 362, printed factory marks to base ‘Hand Painted Bizarre by Clarice Cliff Newport Pottery England’
EST.$600 – $800

LOT 025, Clarice Cliff

LOT 025
Clarice Cliff
‘Bizarre’ Inspiration Hiawatha Shallow Bowl
‘Bruna’ pattern, printed factory marks to base ‘Hand Painted Bizarre by Clarice Cliff Wilkinson England’
EST.$200 – $300

LOT 022, Clarice Cliff

LOT 022
Clarice Cliff
‘Bizarre’ Bachelor Tea Set
‘Pink Pearls’ pattern, ‘Bonjour’ shape, printed factory marks to base ‘Hand Painted Bizarre by Clarice Cliff Wilkinson England’, cup, saucer, side plate, tea pot, creamer, sugar bowl (6)
EST.$250 – $350

LOT 023, Clarice Cliff

LOT 023
Clarice Cliff
‘Bizarre’ Marmalade Jam Pot
printed factory marks to base ‘Hand Painted Bizarre by Clarice Cliff Newport Pottery England’
EST.$100 – $200

LOT 021, Clarice Cliff

LOT 021
Clarice Cliff
‘Bizarre’ Athens Jug
‘Original Bizarre’ pattern, printed factory marks to base ‘Hand Painted Bizarre by Clarice Cliff Newport Pottery England’
EST.$250 – $350

LOT 111, Josef Hoffman (Austrian, 1870-1956)

LOT 111
Josef Hoffman (Austrian, 1870-1956)
Kubus Sofa, designed 1910
manufactured by Wittmann, Möbelwerkstätten, Austria, black leather three seater sofa
EST.$2,000 – $3,000

Interior of Mary Lipshut House

Interior of Mary Lipshut House

Interior of Mary Lipshut House

Interior of Mary Lipshut House

Interior of Mary Lipshut House

Interior of Mary Lipshut House

LOT 176, O. Noel Coulson (1905-1993)

LOT 176
O. Noel Coulson (1905-1993)
Double Pedestal Dining Table
manufactured by S. Andrewartha Furniture Manufacturers, Richmond, Melbourne, with extensions, together with a set of eight side chairs and one carver, the back splat carved in the form of papyrus leaf, upholstered leather seat (10)
EST.$2,000 – $3,000

LOT 175, O. Noel Coulson (1905-1993)

LOT 175
O. Noel Coulson (1905-1993)
Arm Chair, c. 1958
manufactured by S. Andrewartha Furniture, Melbourne, with upholstered back and seat, front legs with brass sabots
EST.$400 – $600

LOT 172, O. Noel Coulson (1905-1993)

LOT 172
O. Noel Coulson (1905-1993)
Two Door Low Cabinet, c. 1958
manufactured by S. Andrewartha Furniture Manufacturers, Richmond, Melbourne, limed oak of rectangular form, having two central long drawers flanked by cupboard doors, splayed feet, minor loss to veneer on one drawer
EST.$1,500 – $2,500

LOT 167, O. Noel Coulson (1905-1993)

LOT 167
O. Noel Coulson (1905-1993)
Combination Telephone Table and Chair, c. 1958
manufactured by S. Andrewartha Furniture Manufacturers, Richmond, Melbourne, limed oak with circular cushioned upholstered seat, brass sabot feet
EST.$1,000 – $1,500

LOT 138, Charles Eames (American, 1907-1978), Ray Eames (American, 1912-1988)

LOT 138
Charles Eames (American, 1907-1978), Ray Eames (American, 1912-1988)
Six Low Side Chairs (model LCM), designed 1946
moulded walnut veneered plywood, seat and back rest on a chrome plated steel frame (6)
EST.$2,000 – $3,000

LOT 100, Arne Jacobsen (Danish, 1902-1971)

LOT 100
Arne Jacobsen (Danish, 1902-1971)
Egg Chair. Designed 1964. Manufactured by Fritz Hansen, Denmark, red upholstery, on aluminium swivel base
EST.$4,000 – $6,000
Height 106cm
Private Collection, NSW, Literature: Thau, Carsten and Vindum, Kjeld, Arne Jacobsen, Arkitekton, Copenhagen, 2008, pp. 471-47, Noritsugu Oda, Danish Chairs, Chronicle, 1999, p. 60

LOT 101, Arne Jacobsen (Danish, 1902-1971)

LOT 101
Arne Jacobsen (Danish, 1902-1971)
Egg Chair and Foot stool. Designed 1964. Manufactured by Fritz Hansen, Denmark, red upholstery, on aluminium swivel base (2)
EST.$5,000 – $7,000
Height 106cm
Private Collection, NSW, Literature: Thau, Carsten and Vindum, Kjeld, Arne Jacobsen, Arkitekton, Copenhagen, 2008, pp. 471-47, Noritsugu Oda, Danish Chairs, Chronicle, 1999, p. 60

Arne Jacobsen chairs in-situ, House at Foxground, Berry NSW

Arne Jacobsen chairs in-situ, House at Foxground, Berry NSW.