O ur Important Design sale offers a panorama of creations dating from the end of the 19th century to the present day, with pieces by Jean Royère, Alberto Giacometti, André Borderie, Francis Jourdain, Philippe Hiquily, Max Ingrand, Magdalene Odundo, Gino Sarfatti and Claude Lalanne.

Two highlights mark this auction. There is the iconic “Hippopotamus Bar” by François-Xavier Lalanne acquired by parents of the vendors in 1986, the year the piece was realized, which has since remained in the same collection and then at 6 pm the auction will pay tribute to Diego Giacometti with the sale of an important set of pieces: armchairs, coffee table, table, andirons, bench and light fixtures coming from a private collection that we are very privileged to present.

You are a designer, but you also work as an architect as well as being a ceramist and glassmaker: where does your inspiration come from?

My work is tied to creativity, which I believe is the attitude of knowing how to observe and to look at everything around us with curiosity.

The sources of inspiration are therefore multiform and, as Picasso explained, you don't look, you find...

In your work as a set designer you participated in the exhibition Les Giacometti: une famille de créateurs at the Fondation Maeght - what is your connection with Diego Giacometti?

I've been lucky enough to have lived in close contact with many works by the Giacometti brothers, both Alberto and Diego.

The delicacy and poetry of the latter's works perfectly reflect the elegance of the person I had the pleasure of meeting, notably through the Maeght family, and also thanks to François Monse and Pierre Basse, who were Diego's own metalworkers for the assemblage of his furniture.

What are your favourite pieces in the sale?

There are some very beautiful pieces by Diego in the sale, some very emblematic of his style and others that are less well known. Personally, I have always admired the 3-branch wall light with the birds and the armchairs, including the aux Pommeaux de canne one.