Property of a Private European Collector
306
Ron Arad
Prototype "D-Sofa"
- Estimate
- $100,000 - 150,000
$257,000
Lot Details
Painted mild steel, steel.
1993
40 7/8 x 83 3/4 x 36 1/8 in. (103.8 x 212.7 x 91.8 cm)
Handmade by Ron Arad and the One-Off team in the Chalk Farm studio, London, UK. Number 1 of 3 prototypes for the edition of 20 plus 5 artist's proofs in polished stainless steel. Armrests incised with Ron Arad 93 and PROTOTYPE/London-cantù.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The present lot represents an important transition in Ron Arad’s œuvre from small-scale workshop production to industrial fabrication. It was one of the very last pieces to be made by Arad and his team in London before he moved his studio to Cantù, Italy. According to Arad, “this piece reflected the transformation of our production and finishing skills from crude to ‘state of the art.’ We were dangerously close to becoming craftspeople. D-Sofa is more of a virtuoso piece than the earlier volume pieces.” The inscription London-cantù alludes to this transition, both geographically and conceptually.
Phillips wishes to thank Caroline Thorman from Ron Arad Associates for her assistance with the cataloguing of this lot.
Phillips wishes to thank Caroline Thorman from Ron Arad Associates for her assistance with the cataloguing of this lot.
Provenance
Exhibited
Literature
Ron Arad
Israeli | 1951Ron Arad's work and career is characterized by his movement between modes and constant experimentation. Arad was born in Tel Aviv, Israel in 1951 and studied at the Jerusalem Academy of Art before moving to London in 1973. He began his practice in London in the early 1980s and set up One Off Ltd, focused on limited edition objects, with his partner Caroline Thorman. A decade later he had moved to industrial production techniques and collaborations with large design firms such as Vitra and Kartell.
A persistent theme throughout his work is innovation and the idea of the "new." Still producing work today, Arad uses the latest technology to produce his designs and also integrates it within his pieces, such as his Lolita Chandelier (2004) that can receive and display text messages. Arad also continually experiments with materials and has an exceptional skill to coax volume and undulation out of them, with a particular affinity for metal. His works such as The Big Easy chair (1988) walk the line between design and sculpture. Once an outsider, Arad's relentless energy to design, build and collaborate has placed him firmly within the highest ranks of the design world.
Browse ArtistA persistent theme throughout his work is innovation and the idea of the "new." Still producing work today, Arad uses the latest technology to produce his designs and also integrates it within his pieces, such as his Lolita Chandelier (2004) that can receive and display text messages. Arad also continually experiments with materials and has an exceptional skill to coax volume and undulation out of them, with a particular affinity for metal. His works such as The Big Easy chair (1988) walk the line between design and sculpture. Once an outsider, Arad's relentless energy to design, build and collaborate has placed him firmly within the highest ranks of the design world.