31st Oct, 2023 10:00
Design
105
Carlo Bugatti (1856-1940)
Carlo Bugatti (1856-1940),
a walnut and ebonised, copper, bone and pewter-mounted side table, with a circular top, centred with a machine-embroidered panel, the edge with a pierced and embossed copper band, folded to the edge, the square stand with a shaped castellated apron inlaid with bone and pewter, the turned supports mounted with embossed spiralled copper, on an 'X' form stand, with ebonised block mounts and further pierced copper panels,
70cm diameter
76cm high
Carlo Bugatti (1856-1940)
Inheriting artistic talents from his father, who was an architect and sculptor, Carlo Bugatti was born in Milan on February 16, 1856. He studied at the Brera Academy in Milan and at the Académie des Beaux Arts in Paris. Towards the end of the 1860s, he began working for a cabinet-maker in Milan.
In 1888, Bugatti displayed his designs at both the Industrial Arts Exhibition in Milan and the Italian Exhibition at Earl's Court in London. Typical of the first phase of his furniture making, he used heavy, ebonised wood inlaid with copper, brass, ivory, mother of pearl or camel and deer hide which he then decorated with fringes or metal discs, exotic geometric marquetry or stencil work of oriental calligraphy or with flower, animal or insect motifs. Influenced by Moorish, Japanese and primitive art, his cabinets, chairs, tables, beds and other pieces were all highly individual, even theatrical.
After opening his own workshop in Milan in 1898, Bugatti exhibited at the Exhibitions in Turin in 1898 and Paris in 1900. At the First International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Arts held in Turin in 1902, he created his famous ‘Snail Room' and won the Diploma of Honour, its most prestigious award. However, the 1902 exhibition marked the last phase in Bugatti's furniture designs mainly because his experimentation with new materials like vellum failed to attract clients. On the brink of bankruptcy, he was forced to close his workshop.
To start afresh, Bugatti with his wife Teresa and three children emigrated to Paris in 1904. There, he opened another workshop, this time producing luxury items for clients such as the Bon Marché department store. On his arrival, he had met art merchant and artistic foundry owner Adrien A. Hèbrard (1865-1937) who convinced him to begin sculpting and who, in 1907, held an exhibition of his silverware designs, largely depicting animals, at the Galerie Hébrard. Bugatti also had regular exhibitions at the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs before moving, in 1910, due to his wife's ill health to Pierrefonds, a small village north east of Paris.
Sadly, the latter years of Bugatti's life were marked by tragedy. He was devastated by the suicide, in 1916, of his younger son, the brilliant but fragile sculptor, Rembrandt. This was followed, in 1932, by the death of his daughter, and soon after that, of his wife. Now alone, he went to live with his son Ettore, near the Bugatti car factory at Molsheim in the Alsace region of France. Carlo Bugatti died in April 1940 and was buried at Dorlisheim with full military honours for the courageous stand he took against the German occupation of Pierrerfonds, where he had been mayor during World War I.
Take advantage of our Sworders Delivery Service. Please see 'Shipping estimate' below.
A selection of Arts and Crafts & Art Nouveau featured in our 31 October Design auction.
Sold for £1,600
Condition Report
Later embroidered panel, slightly loose - stained and worn.
Aprons split - with tarnished and raised areas to the pewter. The circular mount to the top of the leg missing - some further ebonised panels missing to the apron and leg tops.
Knocks and wear to the X frame base. Paint flecks to the base. Worn throughout.
Garaged for many years and bought by the vendor in the 1960s.
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Auction: Design, 31st Oct, 2023
Viewing
London Viewing | Highlights
A selection of lots will be on view Friday 6 October - Wednesday 18 October at our London Gallery, 15 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ, as follows:
Monday-Friday, 11.30am - 5.30pm
Saturday, 1pm - 5pm
Sunday - Closed
For more information, please contact 0203 971 2500 | london@sworder.co.uk
Stansted Viewing | Auction
Viewing will be held at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE, as follows:
Friday 27 October, 10am - 5pm
Saturday 28 October, 10am - 1pm
Sunday 29 October, 10am - 1pm
Monday 30 October, 10am - 5pm
All lots are, however, extensively illustrated and carry detailed condition reports - see 'Condition report' at the foot of each lot description.
The auction will take place at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE.
Please note that this item is not suitable for a pre-sale automated shipping estimate due to the items weight/size.
The below table shows indicative shipping costs for larger items being delivered within the UK mainland. Please note that all the below costs are purely for indicative purposes and are to be used as a guideline only. If you purchase multiple large items, we will combine deliveries to reduce the shipping costs.
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