Emile Gallé (1846-1904)
Sold €29,900
René Lalique (1860-1945)
Sold €35,586
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Émile Gallé (1846-1904)
Sold 16 250 €

Decorative Arts of the 20th Century

“The decorative arts of the 20th century draw inspiration from their time: technological progress, scientific advancements, material developments, computer-assisted design… Functional objects, ornaments, and furniture are shaped by these transformations. That’s the richness of my profession.”

— Jessica Remy Catanese

Every year, the Aguttes auction house organizes several auctions in Neuilly-sur-Seine dedicated to 20th-century decorative arts, offering more than 300 works by renowned artists. All the major artistic movements of the first half of the 20th century are represented: Art Nouveau with Emile Gallé, the Daum brothers, Louis Majorelle, René Lalique, Carlo Bugatti, and Louis-Comfort Tiffany; Art Deco embodied by Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann, Jean Dunand, Armand-Albert Rateau, André Groult, René Buthaud, Edgar Brandt, Emile Decoeur, Jean Puiforcat, Jean Desprès, and Paul Dupré Lafon; then Modernism, represented by Robert Mallet-Stevens, Jean-Michel Frank, Pierre Chareau, Eugène Printz, André Sornay, and Jacques Quinet, among others. Lastly, the great decorators and designers of the 1940s are not left out, with pieces often featuring Jules Leleu, André Arbus, Gilbert Poillerat, Maxime Old, and Jean Royère, as well as works from prestigious design houses such as Jansen, Baguès, and Ramsay. Our auctions also extend their scope to the second half of the 20th century, showcasing works by major names in post-war and contemporary design.

The auctions in this specialty stand out from competing houses through remarkable sales of works by the great names of decorative arts from the first half of the 20th century. From domestic furniture to exceptional pieces, our sales feature works patiently curated by collectors as discerning as they are passionate. To meet the expectations of our international network of buyers, the pieces offered undergo a rigorous selection process, focusing on signature, uniqueness, provenance, and condition. In this dynamic and competitive market, each auction presents a carefully curated selection of furniture and objects with high potential from major artists of the period.

Thanks to a demanding sourcing process in both France and Europe, we offer furniture, lighting, glassware, ceramics, art objects, rugs, and sculptures that meet the demands of the art market and align with current interior design trends. With nearly 15 years of experience in French and international auction houses, Jessica Remy-Catanese brings her expertise and her network of decorators, interior designers, and collectors to ensure the best results and enhance your collection. Whether you wish to redecorate, have your furniture appraised, or invest, we are here to advise and assist you. Your Gallé vase, Dunand lacquer, Ruhlmann furniture, or Perzel floor lamp is likely to captivate one of our collectors !

Good to know: Our 20th-century Decorative Arts department organizes three auction sessions and online sales each year. Discover our auction calendar.

Our specialist is available to appraise your 20th-century furniture and objects, offering professional expertise as well as advice on sales or investments. Appraisals are free and confidential, by appointment. You can submit your appraisal requests by filling out the online form.

Our experts and specialists travel throughout France and Europe, in collaboration with our representative offices, to provide free appraisals of your furniture and objects by major 20th-century names in Lyon, Aix-en-Provence, Brussels, and Geneva. Discover our offices. Our auctioneers are also available to assist with inventorying your entire collection of assets and items for sharing or sale. Lastly, our teams are here to assist you with the search, sale, or acquisition of a unique work, handled discreetly and privately.

A storage facility in the Paris region, specifically dedicated to this specialty, ensures the security and optimal conditions for storing entrusted items.

The house boasts a unique communication strength and provides sellers with modern, targeted tools for effective international promotion. We pay particular attention to the production of the auction catalog, both in its design and content, whether in print or entirely digital format. Our catalogs, which are richly documented and translated into English, focus on the graphic presentation of the whole. Our buyer clientele, 50% of which is international, benefits from a working tool that has become our strength and distinguishing feature. For each auction, we ensure wide publicity in foreign publications, decoration magazines, and websites. 2,000 catalogs are sent to a broad audience of private collectors, enthusiasts, and decorators. We communicate with buyers from our portfolio and potential buyers identified through multiple channels: online and offline advertisements, social media, email marketing, media outlets, influencers, and auction platforms with high-quality, tailored content including images, text, and videos.