This 20th Century Design auction contains a series of pre-war masterpieces that have not appeared on the market — in recent times, or ever — showing the strength of this collecting area at Sotheby’s. An inventory of the sale reads like a celebration of the greatest names in this period: a unique bar by Eckart Muthesius, together with a rare black lacquer and brown leather Eileen Gray armchair, both created for the Maharaja of Indore, a copper and tubular metal occasional table given by Eileen Gray to the mother of the current owner, a Marcel Coard cabinet bought 30 years ago, a unique Eugène Printz dining table, and a whole room lacquered boiserie by Jean Dunand.

The post-war section is similarly important with many European movements represented, including pieces by Josef Hoffmann, Grete Jalk, Franco Albini, and Franz von Stuck. There is particular emphasis on the French decorative arts, with works by Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann, Guy de Rougemont, Jean Dunand, Maria Pergay, Line Vautrin, and Francois Xavier Lalanne.