They had been sent by Smith & Singer on behalf of the private client to the Important Design sale at Sotheby’s Paris (25/20/13.9% buyer’s premium) on December 17.
A première version Berceau table took €201,600 ($324,576) including premium. Featuring a patinated bronze and glass top, 15in x 4ft 6in x 17in (38.5cm x 1.37m x 43cm), it was estimated at €100,000-150,000. A seconde version Berceau table in the same form, 14½in x 3ft 10in x 16¾in (36.5cm x 1.17m x 42.5cm), also sold for €201,600 ($324,576) against an estimate of €80,000-120,000.
Geoffrey Smith, chairman of Smith & Singer, said: “As the epicentre of the market for important design, Paris was the natural choice for the auction of these remarkable examples by Diego Giacometti. We are delighted that our decision was rewarded with such a result.”
In 1995 Smith & Singer, operating as Sotheby’s Australia, became wholly owned by Sotheby’s, only to be restructured under a strict licence agreement in 2009 when co-owners Smith and Gary Singer acquired the rights to use the Sotheby’s Australia name. Singer and Smith (a married couple) rebranded the company with their own names from January 1 last year. The auction house conducts sales in Melbourne and Sydney.
