A TIMELESS JOURNEY THROUGH ELEGANCE, INNOVATION & ICONIC DESIGN
Woolley & Wallis offers crème de la crème of the key players of the movement
UK. MARCH 2025. With the world celebrating the centenary of the Art Deco movement, Woolley & Wallis auctioneers is delighted to present an exceptional sale that applauds the designers and creative output of this unique artistic movement, which spanned art, design and architecture. “Originating in France in circa 1910, the Art Deco movement gained prominence after the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes and its appeal still makes it highly sought-after today. We are thrilled to mark the 100th anniversary with this special sale” says Michael Jeffery, Head of Design at Woolley & Wallis, “with key players in the movement represented throughout.”
Ceramics
Among the works is a selection of distinctive pieces by the British ceramicist Clarice Cliff (1899-1972) who rose to fame in the 1920s and 1930s with her bold hand-painted patterns, that captured the spirit of the era. Her inventive shapes, modernist style and geometric designs with abstract motifs, made her a pioneering figure in the Art Deco aesthetic.
A rare and early Appliqué Orange Lugano Clarice Cliff Clarice Cliff Bizarre Stamford tea trio was first introduced in the 1930s. The pattern has been boldy painted by one of Clarice’s young paintresses with the bright oranges, reds and greens framed and accentuated by the thick black enamels on the spout and handle. The trio carries an estimate of £3,000-£5,000 (lot 7). An ‘Inspiration Caprice’ Clarice Cliff Bizarre large, ribbed charger features a vibrant radial design on a turquoise pattern, with contrasting colours and carries an estimate of £1,500-£2,000 (lot 16). A large ‘Latona Tree’ Clarice Cliff Bizarre vase is painted in bright colours on a Latona cream ground and carries an estimate of £800-£1,200 (lot 11).
An ‘Inspiration Caprice’ Clarice Cliff Bizarre large, ribbed charger. Estimate £1,500-£2,000 (lot 16)
A range of Wedgwood is featured in the sale, with pieces by the New Zealand-born British ceramicist Keith Murray (1892-1981), who made a significant impact during his tenure at Wedgwood in the 1920s and 1930s. Joining in 1924, Murray brought an understated elegance and functional element, which contrasted with Wedgwood’s traditionally sophisticated style.
His pieces are recognised for their clean lines and simple, geometric forms, which helped change the focus at Wedgwood from decorative excess to more minimalist and modern ceramics. His resulting pieces have a timeless simplicity that appeals to a contemporary audience to this day. Among a whole range of pieces by Murray in the sale is a Wedgwood Pottery Black Basalt vase in flaring conical form (estimate £700-£900 lot 56) and a Wedgwood Pottery Matt Blue footed vase in a flaring, ribbed cylindrical form, covered in a matt blue glaze (£400-£500 lot 52).
Girl with a Floral Towel by Josef Lorenzl (1892-1950). Estimate £600-£1,000 (lot 175)
Sculpture
Another key figure of the period was the French-born artist and designer Maurice Prost (1894-1967), who began his artistic journey very early, at the age of 14 when he was an apprentice to a sculptor. Following an accident in 1914, he had to have most of his left arm amputated, but despite this setback, he continued to pursue his passion for sculpture. He established his first studio on Rue E. Cresson in Paris and later relocated to Brunoy in 1926. The 1937 Exposition Universelle marked a pivotal moment in his career, where his sculpture of Pegasus gained recognition, leading to several significant commissions, including two four metre statues of Pegasus for the Pont de l’Alma.
Between 1920 and 1930, he regularly showcased his work at the Salon des Artistes Français, receiving an honourable mention in 1922 and a silver medal in 1936. In 1933, he was awarded the prestigious Légion d’Honneur and a large collection of his works is housed in the Brunoy museum. The work in the sale is a bronze sculpture titled Panthére Marchant (Walking Panther), which sits on a polished black marble base. The work reflects his ongoing interest in capturing dynamic, organic forms and carries an estimate of £3,000-£5,000 (lot 182).
A Danaides opalescent glass moulded in relief vase, introduced by René Lalique in 1926
Estimate £3,000-£4,000 (lot 130)
Another leading sculptor and ceramicist of the period was the Austrian Josef Lorenzl (1892-1950), whose works epitomise the Art Deco period in spirit, form and materials used. Fascinated by the female form he created bronze figures of women in elegant, yet dramatic poses. One such example among several in the sale, is Girl with a Floral Towel in patinated bronze on an oval veined marble base, which carries an estimate of £600-£1,000 (lot 175).
Glass
Among an impressive array of Art Deco glass, is a selection by the esteemed French glassmakers Lalique, who have always been celebrated for their high-quality glass art, including decorative objects, vases and figurines. Founded by René Lalique in 1888, his pieces during the Art Deco period featured intricate designs inspired by nature with flowing, organic shapes and delicate details. The company is known for both its historical pieces, as well as its contemporary interpretations of René Lalique’s iconic style. Pieces in the sale include a Danaides opalescent glass moulded in relief vase, introduced by René Lalique in 1926. In Greek mythology the Danaides were the fifty daughters of Danaus, King of Argos, who were betrothed to the fifty sons of his brother, Aegyptus.
Fearing the consequences of his daughters marrying the sons of Aegyptus, their father Danaus ordered them to kill their husbands on their wedding night. All but one of the Danaides obeyed their father’s command and murdered their husbands. For this they were punished in Hades by being forced to eternally pour water into a vessel with a hole in the bottom, a task that could never be completed. The Danaides are the female figures moulded into the glass of the vase. It carries an estimate of £3,000-£4,000 (lot 130).
A Sauterelle Lalique clear and frosted glass vase designed by René Lalique is favoured for its elegant blend of clear and frosted glass, with intricate blue staining that highlights the depth and detail of its design. It carries an estimate of £4,000-£6,000 (lot 137).
A Bauhaus chrome metal cantilever chair by Dutch designer Mart Stam (1899-1986). Estimate £600-£1,000 (lot 165)
Furniture
During the Art Deco period furniture went through a significant transformation, reflecting the broader cultural shifts of the time, with industrialization and the aftermath of World War I. There was a move away from the heavy, elaborate designs of earlier periods and an emphasis on simpler, more geometric, sleek designs with a focus on functionality, without impinging on style. Among the furniture in the sale is an oak kidney-shaped desk in the manner of Heal & Sons, complete with bookshelf and fitted drawers in its curved cupboards, with a leather writing insert on the top. Stylish and simple, it carries an estimate of £300-£500 (lot 168).
A Bauhaus chrome metal cantilever chair, with a red textured seat, back and arm pads, designed by Dutch designer Mart Stam (1899-1986), also features. The design movement Bauhaus originated in Germany in 1919 and its effect was far-reaching and celebrated for its functional, minimalist and unified approach to design, which blended art, craftsmanship and industry. The chair which demonstrates all of these qualities, carries an estimate of £600-£1,000 (lot 165).
Maria Fein by Dorte Clara Dodo Burgner, known as Dodo (1907-1998). Estimate £6,000- £10,000 (lot 158)
Works on Paper
Art of this period included prints, drawings, illustration
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