Nature & Form

For Alexandre Noll, there was little distinction between art and function. In the early to mid-20th century, he created a signature style that melded the two. Beginning as a sculptor for Paul Poiret’s French fashion house, Noll would eventually focus his interest on wood as his chosen medium. In creating his “furniture sculptures,” he said that he wanted “to make of wood all that could be made out of wood.” The upcoming Nature & Form auction offered by Bonhams will present 57 of Noll’s works from his estate. Particularly highlighted is an oak sculpture from his late 1940s Traverses series. The piece is detailed with deep grooves and measures almost nine feet tall.

This auction will offer a mix of Noll’s decorative and functional pieces. A sycamore table lamp from the 1950s falls in the latter category with a sycamore body and a bronze collar at the base. Curved and wavy wood is the focus of this and all of his works. This was an unusual choice in the postwar era of industrial and man-made materials. The sale will also include over 20 of Noll’s ink drawings and oil paintings. Many of these pieces are untitled. To view the full catalog and register for bidding, visit Invaluable