It had originally belonged to Dunand’s family.
Along with a low, ebonised library table by Eugène Printz which made a double-estimate €57,000 (£38,000), the vase was a rare highlight at a sale where just 40 per cent sold by lot, en-route to a hammer total of €732,000 (£488,000). Four of the eight lots expected to bring over €50,000 found takers, led by a 5ft 10in x 4ft 6in (1.78 x 1.36m) oak and burr walnut-veneered bookcase by Ruhlmann, which went below estimate at €90,000 (£60,000).
The bookcase was one of five lots designed by Ruhlmann offered from the same private collection; only one other sold, an unstamped Macassar ebony coffee table, which made a
low-estimate €61,000 (£40,650).
Two other Ruhlmann items in Macassar ebony, of different provenance, went unsold: a Lotus desk, estimated at €130,000-150,000, and a daybed, estimated at €70,000-80,000.
A £40,000 star older than looks suggest...
The 20in (52cm) high dinanderie vase by Jean Dunand, pictured, right, with original black patina and sleek Art Deco outlines belying its early date of 1913, zoomed to €60,000 (£40,000), five times the estimate, at the Tajan (20.33% buyer’s premium) sale of 20th century decorative arts on March 4.
