On May 27 and 28, Artcurial honors a century of creative excellence with two extraordinary auctions, marking the 100th anniversary of the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts. This tribute celebrates the craftsmanship that redefined design history, bridging Art Déco masterpieces and iconic Made in Italy creations. 
The first session, dedicated to Art Déco design, explores the legacy of the Prouvé family through Simone Prouvé’s collection. Emblematic works by Simone, Jean, and Victor Prouvé tell the story of three generations of visionaries who fused art and functionality. The second session commemorates the 1925 Exhibition’s centenary with 100 Italian design masterpieces, symbols of creativity and mastery. Highlights include a suspended lamp by Max Ingrand (estimate €25,000-35,000), where glass transforms into luminous sculpture, and a chiffonier by Fontana Arte (estimate €30,000-50,000), exemplifying rigorous elegance. Also featured is Gio Ponti’s AGATA plate for Ginori (estimate €8,000-12,000), debuted at the 1925 Exhibition and marking the designer’s first international acclaim. The event exalts materials that shaped design: glass, wood, ceramic, and metal converge in iconic pieces such as Franco Albini’s Villa Pestarini-inspired armchairs (estimate €30,000-50,000) and Ingrand’s Dahlia floor lamp (estimate €15,000-25,000), where light enhances opalescent glass transparency. A preview selection of works will debut at Milan’s Salone del Mobile in Artcurial’s Corso Venezia showroom, curated by Andrea Caravita. Conceived as a “Milanese dream home,” the space merges past and present through Caravita’s passions: art, nature, food, and photography.
Three butter dishes from the Burrocrazia collection become ephemeral installations, sculpted in butter by contemporary artists, turning everyday objects into transient, poetic works. On the walls, Lamberto Caravita’s “non-boxes” from the Herbarium series enchant with pyrographed flowers and Latin names, while film photographs by Mimmo Dabbrescia capture historic moments: Paloma Picasso clutching her jewelry, Valentino Garavani awaiting a runway show, and the creative energy of 1970s Milan. Completing the experience is a borosilicate glass vase by Gala Rotelli, adorned with hand-blown flowers symbolizing rebirth and artistic resilience. Founded in 2002, Artcurial solidifies its role as a global art market leader in 2024, with locations from Paris to Marrakech and projected sales of €186.6 million. Its Swiss expansion, via partnership with Beurret Bailly Widmer Auktionen, underscores its international vision. More than an auction, this event is a journey through a century of beauty, where design becomes a universal language and craftsmanship ascends to art. An invitation to collect not just objects, but stories, emotions, and fragments of eternity.
