A rare Eileen Gray black lacquered brick screen, made under licence by ClassiCon for European modernist furniture company, Aram, in the 1970's.
The screen consists of 44 wooden blocks, covered with several layers of black piano lacquer, that swivel on 12 solid rods. Each rod has a brass stopper on either side for the screen to balance on.
Eileen Gray was a groundbreaking modernist furniture designer whose fame grew to epic proportions when, in her late 90's, a similar, original screen was bought for a record amount at an auction by Yves Saint Laurent in 1972.
Only 11 original screens were hand made by Gray in the 1920's when she worked under Japanese lacquer master Seizo Sugawaro in Paris.
This example of her brilliantly conceptualised screen was first sold at the Milan Furniture fair between 1970 and 1980 and brought to South Africa by mid century modern furniture collector, Will Hinton and Tess Wolpe. The screen was used as a prop in the movie industry and sold on auction to us in October 2018.
Condition: Good. The lacquer has suffered light chaffing which will have to be buffed or re-lacquered by an expert for full restoration for an otherwise structurally sound and very cleverly conceptualised piece.
Dimensions: 184 x 187 cm h
Read more about this enigmatic architect and furniture designer and our search for the true origin of this specific and very rare piece on our blog here.
https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/more-furniture-collectibles/home-accents/screens-room-dividers/eileen-gray-style-brick-screen-black-lacquer-room-divider/id-f_10624151/
