When a Window Stole the Show at Christie's
Christie’s achieves $23.6M across two standout design auctions, led by a rare Tiffany window and iconic works by Giacometti and Lalanne.
Christie’s has set the tone for the design market this season with two exceptional sales: Design and the single-owner collection American Avant-Garde: The James D. Zellerbach Residence by Frances Elkins.
Together, they realised $23.6 million, underscoring continued global appetite for 20th-century decorative arts.
A luminous masterpiece led the Design auction from Tiffany Studios, The Goddard Memorial Window, which soared to $4.29 million, more than doubling its low estimate and becoming the second-most valuable window by the artist ever sold.
Proceeds will benefit the missions of St. Luke’s Church, from which the work originated.
Further highlights included Claude Lalanne’s fantastical chandelier, which achieved $1.87 million, and François-Xavier Lalanne’s surrealist Canard-Bateau, which fetched over five times its high estimate.
Works by Royère, Tynell, and the Giacometti brothers also saw fervent bidding, reflecting growing collector demand across sculptural and functional design.
The Zellerbach sale added $8.1 million to the total, led by two rare Oiseaux by Alberto Giacometti, each surpassing $2.8 million.
Jean-Michel Frank’s elegant modernism resonated strongly, while Frances Elkins’ creations drew fresh appreciation.
Altogether, the sales reaffirm Christie’s mastery in curating and presenting design at its most collectable.
