From Le Corbusier to Andy Warhol: Eppli auctions classics at the special "Modern Art and Design" auction in March

They are the big names in architecture and design: Le Corbusier, for example, as well as Wagenfeld and Kay Bojesen. They stand for clear and timeless design from the middle of the 20th century, which has been in great demand again for some years now - and has never actually gone out of fashion. The situation is similar with names such as Andy Warhol, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí and other modern artists. Germany's largest auction house, Eppli, has brought together special pieces from several collections and estates and will be auctioning them off on March 22, 2024 at the special "Modern Art and Design" auction in Leinfelden-Echterdingen.

Furniture, table and floor lamps from the 1950s to 1970s, paintings and prints, object art and sculptures - there are some treasures to be found among the 250 or so items on offer at the auction. They come from several estates that have been consigned to Eppli. have been consigned to Eppli. Among them is the collection of art historian Professor Dr. Helge Bathelt (1948-2023), former director of the Volkshochschule and the municipal gallery in Herrenberg as well as chairman of the Europäische Kulturgemeinschaft e.V. (European Cultural Community).

Design from the 1950s to 1970s has been very popular for some years now. Small pieces of furniture such as chairs, armchairs, tables and chests of drawers are particularly popular, as are furnishings such as lamps. Typical of the designs of this period are clear shapes, no frills, high-quality materials - they are timeless, fit in with any interior design style and often accompany their owners for a lifetime. "They offer an optimal mix of functionality, durability and a high-quality look," says José Juan Martinez-Garcia, an expert in designer furniture and arts and crafts at Eppli. Some designs have become icons over time, for example the Eames Chair by Vitra, the Egg Chair by Arne Jacobsen, the Wagenfeld lamp or the shape of the arc lamp. And these icons are coveted. Martinez-Garcia says: "You want what everyone knows, but not everyone has."

At the "Modern Art and Design" special auction, there is a good chance that you will get what you want: collectors will find what they are looking for, as will interested parties who are looking for special furnishings. "The auction appeals to a different, broader audience than our antiques auctions," says Martinez-Garcia.

The patina of the design classics tells a story - of the furniture and of the time

Some of the design classics could also be bought new, as many of them are still in production, for example the Eames Chair, chairs by Arne Jacobsen or the small wooden monkey with long arms by Kay Bojesen, which can be hung on a shelf as a decorative object. So why buy vintage when you can have the coveted design object fresh and unused? "The furniture has a patina, which gives it a very special charm," explains Martinez-Garcia. "The leather has something very special when it's no longer brand new." However, and this is an important detail, this does not mean that the leather can be worn, stained or greasy. On the contrary, all materials such as leather or metal are still in very good condition. However, the patina mentioned by Martinez-Garcia tells a story - that of the furniture and that of the decades.

Modern art is just as popular as midcentury design at the moment. This is why the experts at Eppli have combined the two in a special auction, especially as the objects from the consigned estates harmonize very well with each other. "The world is becoming more technical, the furnishing style more economical. Abstract art goes well with frugal furnishings and designer furniture," says Annegret König, art historian and expert for paintings, prints and sculptures at Eppli. However, modern art is by no means limited to abstract compositions, but also includes figurative works such as female nudes, still lifes and paintings of landscapes.

Figurative as well as abstract art

"The special thing about an auction like this is that it shows the breadth of modern art, with works from the First World War onwards being offered at this auction," explains Annegret König. Figurative and abstract art, paintings, sculptures, graphics, many different artists - some well-known, such as Ernst Fuchs, Salvador Dalí or Andy Warhol, others rather unknown. Some collectors concentrate on certain art movements on certain art movements or individual artists - some participants in such auctions simply look for a work that they like.

The special auction "Modern Art and Design" also includes works of art that have been part of a collection for 30 years. The advantage of such an auction is therefore also the chance to get a work that is otherwise not on the market.

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