Decorative Highlights in Modern Design
The May 7 Modern Design auction at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers includes exceptional examples of decorative art, including painted pottery by Gio Ponti and glass by René Lalique.
Giovanni “Gio” Ponti (1891–1979)
Born in Milan in 1891, Gio Ponti became one of Italy’s most famous modern architects, industrial designers, and furniture designers of the 20th century. Ponti began his career path by enrolling at the Faculty of Architecture at the Politecnico di Milano in 1914. Married in 1921 to Giulia Vimercati, daughter of local aristocracy, Ponti started to impress the design community, so much so that in 1923 at the Biennale in Monza Ponti was named artistic director for Manifattura Ceramica Richard Ginori.
During the 1920’s Ponti revolutionized Richard Ginori’s production with ceramic pieces self-described as a “vaguely neoclassical inspiration, with Etruscan suggestions, turned toward the modern with ironic elegance.” Two years later in Paris at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, Richard Ginori was awarded two grand prizes, with one for Ponti his designs. Ponti would later go on to gain international fame with the design of the Pirelli Tower in Milan in 1956, the Denver Art Museum in 1971, as well as designing furniture for American firm Singer and Sons.
René Lalique (1860–1945)
René Lalique is arguably France’s most important designer of glass and one of the world’s biggest innovators for the Art Deco movement. In 1885, René became an apprentice to craftsman and jeweler Louis Aucoc while also attending classes at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. In 1887, Lalique set up his first business on Rue du Quatre-Septembre in Paris to showcase his jewelry techniques. It wasn’t until 1905 that he started to showcase his work in glass crafted in his workshop at his estate in Clairefontaine. Perfumer François Coty was so impressed by René’s designs in glass that he asked him to put his talent to work for the perfume industry.
The 1925 International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts in Paris marked the climax of René’s career as a glassmaker. Additional career achievements included decorating famous fashion designer Madeleine Vionnet’s haute couture salons, designing glass doors for Prince Yasuhiko Asaka’s residence in Tokyo and creating the fountain for the Galerie des Champs Elysées in Paris. Following René’s death in 1945, his son Marc took over as head of the business, which still remains at the forefront of glass making today.
The Modern Design sale will be conducted Monday, May 7 at 10am CT. Visit the auction page for more details, to view lots online and browse the digital catalogue.