Bonhams Modern Decorative Art & Design Sale Realizes £825,166

The market for twentieth-century decorative arts and studio ceramics was spotlighted in a sale that closed on 15 October 2026. The auction, organized by Bonhams, realized a total of £825,166^[1], with 110 of the 174 offered lots finding buyers, resulting in a 63.2%^[1] sell-through rate. The event brought together notable consignments, including the Strobel Collection of Art Pottery and a private collection of Art Deco sculptures, showcasing the diverse material history of European design from the late nineteenth century through the late twentieth century.

Among the ceramic offerings, the Strobel Collection featured significant works of French Art Nouveau stoneware and British studio pottery. A primary highlight of the collection was a stoneware Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat Vase, decorated in mottled tones of blue, green, and purple against a sang de boeuf ground. This piece, modelled in high relief with two panthers, has an extensive exhibition history, having been shown in the late nineties and the early two-thousands. It was also featured on the cover of the exhibition catalogue published by the Musée Départemental de l'Oise. The vase carried an estimate of £10,000^[2] to £15,000^[2] and achieved a final price of £109,300^[2].

Studio pottery by Lucie Rie also drew significant interest. A footed bowl by Rie, crafted in porcelain with a manganese glaze and featuring concentric sgraffito and manganese banding to both the interior and exterior, was offered with an estimate of £30,000^[6][4] to £50,000^[8][5][6][4], ultimately selling for £72,180^[4]. Another footed bowl by Rie, also estimated at £30,000 to £50,000, realized £61,940^[6]. A third work by the artist, a smaller bowl estimated at £4,000^[7] to £6,000^[7], found a buyer at £59,380^[7].

The sculpture section of the sale featured prominent Art Deco figures. Paul Philippe's 'Round Dance', a cold-painted bronze and carved ivory sculpture depicting three stylized female dancers on an onyx and black marble base, was offered with an estimate of £60,000^[9][3] to £80,000^[3]. Due to its ivory content, the lot was registered in accordance with the Ivory Act. Similarly, Demetre Chiparus's 'Yambo', a cold-painted, gilt, and patinated bronze sculpture with carved ivory details on a portoro marble and onyx base, was presented with an estimate of £50,000 to £70,000^[8][5]. This piece had previously appeared on the secondary market in the mid-twenty-tens at Christie's in London before entering a private London collection.

The results of the sale demonstrate the continued presence of specialized collectors in the fields of European art pottery and Art Deco sculpture. The Strobel Collection, in particular, highlighted the enduring appeal of French stoneware and studio ceramics, while the Art Deco sculptures offered a glimpse into the material preferences and stylistic tendencies of the interwar period.