Pierre Chareau

DeLorenzo Gallery, New York
Calvin and Kelly Klein, New York

Gaston Varenne, "Un Ensemble de Chareau au Grand Hôtel de Tours," L'Amour de L'Art, 1928, p. 61
Ivanhoé Rambosson, "Un Grand Hotel a Tours," Art et Décoration, February 1928, pp. 38-39
"Un Hotel Moderne A Tours:  Le Grand Hotel Decore par Pierre Chareau," Art et Industrie, January 1928, p. 46
René Herbst, Pierre Chareau, Paris, 1954, p. 63
Marc Vellay and Kenneth Frampton, Pierre Chareau: Architecte-Meublier 1883-1950, Paris, 1984, pp. 74-78
Pierre Chareau:  Architect, Un Interieur, Paris, 1993, p. 194

Overall very good condition with some minor scratches to the surface. The chromed metal is slightly uneven to the touch, which appears inherent in the making. The room divider is finished to both sides, with the reverse lacking the approximately one inch chromed metal border to the burl wood panels. With some dryness throughout, mostly to the side with the deeper chromium-plated border. One area of restoration, which is not sensitively executed and appears like a yellow circle of finish approximately 3 inches in diameter. It appears this conceals a small loss. The reverse side with some abrasions to the wood to the immediate edges within the metal frame to three panels. With some unevenness the color to the bottom portions of the panels to the reverse, likely from sun exposure. With some rubbing to the chroming and a few spots of corrosion that appear as brown specks across the edges. This screen with significant weight. The panels can be separated for easier transport.
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.

The interior of the Grand Hotel in Tours was one the largest interiors undertaken in Chareau's career.  Chareau designed furniture for a number of rooms in the hotel, including the reception hall, smoking room and dining room.  The present lot is an example of the burlwood paneling suspended in chromed metal frames that dominated the interior scheme of the ballroom.  The design for this space, the largest in the hotel's interior, included Chareau's iconic alabaster wall sconces and wrought-iron plant stands.