- 247
Donald Deskey
Estimate
25,000 - 35,000 USD
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Description
- Donald Deskey
- Cocktail Table
- chromium-plated steel and Vitrolite
Literature
Walter Rendell Storey, "American Designers Show Their Work," The New York Times, November 25, 1928, p. 46
Alastair Duncan, American Art Deco, New York, 1986, p. 48
David A. Hanks and Jennifer Toher, Donald Deskey: Decorative Designs and Interiors, New York, 1987, pp. 22-23
J. Stewart Johnson, American Modern 1925-1940: Design for a New Age, New York, 2000, p. 163
Alexander Payne and James Zemaitis, The Coffee Table Coffee Table Book, London, 2003, p. 43
Alastair Duncan, American Art Deco, New York, 1986, p. 48
David A. Hanks and Jennifer Toher, Donald Deskey: Decorative Designs and Interiors, New York, 1987, pp. 22-23
J. Stewart Johnson, American Modern 1925-1940: Design for a New Age, New York, 2000, p. 163
Alexander Payne and James Zemaitis, The Coffee Table Coffee Table Book, London, 2003, p. 43
Condition
Overall very good original condition. With a few very minor shallow surfaces scratches to the vitrolite surface. Considering age and possible use, this top is in excellent condition. The legs of the table with some light corrosion throughout. The metal is no longer a shiny chromed surface, but appears slightly more dull. Chroming is still present and the surface of the base is stable. In terms of condition, this is the best example of the model we have seen appear on the auction market.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
In 1928, one of the key prototypes in the history of the American coffee table form was included by Donald Deskey in the "Man's Smoking Room" he designed for the American Designer's Gallery in New York. In a review of the exhibition, Deskey's interior was noted for its bold "utilization of the materials that industrial science has recently developed." The Vitrolite glass top, which would be replaced in later examples by Bakelite, was chosen by Deskey because, as he later remarked, "its resistance to cigarette burns and because it was the only suitable material that could withstand the alcoholic concoctions of that era."