One of a pair of Louis XIII dining chairs upholstered with Picasso’s tapestry designs, €162,000 (£137,700) at Piasa.
Items from the collection of the French financier Max Pellequer, one of Picasso’s closest friends and his banker, included a pair of otherwise humble Louis XIII dining chairs upholstered with two simple tapestry designs supplied to the necessary dimensions by Picasso in 1959.
Thought to be the only chairs made to the design, they were embroidered by Pellequin’s wife Francine.
The two original sketches of a smiling face were estimated at €60,000-90,000, and each hammered at the low estimate (£51,000). Although both were signed and dedicated verso, only the Indian ink outline had been done by Picasso with the colours added later in pencil by another hand (probably Francine Pellequer herself when choosing her palette).
Pablo Picasso Indian ink drawing Tête, Tapestry Project, 1959, €60,000 (£51,000) at Piasa.
However, the chairs, estimated at €4000-6000 at Piasa, found a far more enthusiastic response, selling together for €162,000 (£137,700).
