A Designer Collection with Hervé Van Der Straete as Guest Star
Organized around the creations of Hervé Van der Straeten, a Parisian apartment boasting a design that is both sculptural and elegant reveals its nuggets.
Estimate: €15,000/€20,000
The owners of a former artist’s studio in Paris’s 11th arrondissement converted it into a space to house contemporary design, sourcing their pieces from well-known Paris brands in the early 2010s. In 2013, at the Martel Greiner Gallery, they acquired a bronze edition of a work by Jacques Zwobada (1900-1967), Orogénie, based on a 1943 model (€3,000/€4,000), and in the same year, the “Mulux” mirror, a 2008 creation in gold-lacquered bronze by Hubert Le Gall (b. 1961) from Avant-Scène (€12,000/€18,000). The largest part of the collection contains pieces by Hervé Van der Straeten, all bought from the artist’s gallery. A console table, a stool, two armchairs and a bowl illustrate the unique style of this designer, who recently celebrated 25 years in the light-filled space in the Marais where he presents his pieces, either one-of-a-kind or produced in limited series in his own workshops. In 2010, he designed the “Cristalloïde” wall console, a complex geometric structure made of metal blocks inspired by the mineral world. Its perfect construction illustrates the expertise of the designer — and his team of craftspeople — and the rigorous standards he has made his trademark. He himself says on his website that living with his creations “means choosing a sculptural, radical, bold design.”
A console table, a stool, two armchairs and a bowl illustrate the unique style of this designer, who recently celebrated 25 years in his light-filled space in the Marais.
Acclaimed by Christian Liaigre, Alberto Pinto and François Catroux
Van der Straeten, a graduate of the Paris École des Beaux-Arts, first made his name with his jewelry, which opened the door to haute couture and collaborations with Jean Paul Gaultier, Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Lacroix. His pieces—influenced by both Art Deco and Asian art—already revealed a graphic construction with a decidedly sculptural character. We remember his oversized earrings and Queen of Sheba jewelry sets, eagerly snapped up by fashionistas. The way before him was clear. In 1990, he took the plunge and created his first furniture in the grand tradition of the French decorative arts. Its high quality and innovative spirit hit the mark, bringing instant success. Top interior designers like Yves Taralon, Christian Liaigre, Alberto Pinto and François Catroux all hailed his style. Van der Straeten then left for New York to show his work. The “Graine” bowl of 2000 (h. 17 cm/6.7 in, w. 43.5 cm/16.9 in) in black patinated bronze was one of his first pieces; the one for sale here is estimated at €1,000/€1,500. In 2002, it was the turn of the “Capsule” stool, which soon became iconic. €4,000/6,000 is expected for the black patinated bronze version (h. 35 cm/13.8 in, diam. 56 cm/22 in), which takes pride of place in the former studio. The often precious and thus expensive materials and the many hours of work required make each object or piece of furniture a luxury item. With the pair of Shanghai chairs (77 x 56.3 x 47 cm/30.3 x 22 x 18.5 in), the designer used tulipwood for the structure and nabob suede calf leather for the seat (€5,000/€6,000). Meanwhile, the console table is made of nickel-plated brass with a black marble top. The asking price of €15,000/20,000 seems reasonable… An identical piece was acquired by the Mobilier National for the Élysée Palace. Where will this one end up?
20th century paintings & decorative arts
Wednesday 21 May 2025 – 14:00 (CEST) – Live
Salle 16 – Hôtel Drouot – 75009 Paris
Audap & Associés
