A 1927 tea infuser by Marianne Brandt has sold at auction for $361,000, breaking the sale record for Bauhaus design.
Brandt's Model No. MT 49 (above), made of silver-plated brass and ebony, was sold to a private American museum at Sotheby's in New York on December 14.
A 1927 teaset by Theodor Wende (above) sold for $180,000 at the sale, which was titled Deutscher Werkbund to Bauhaus: An Important Collection of German Design.
Download the sale results here (29 kb PDF)
Here is a release about the sale from Sotheby's, followed by information about the two pieces shown above:
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Deutscher Werkbund to Bauhaus: An Important Collection of German Design – December 14, 2007
Leading off the December auctions was a single-owner collection of German metalwork, ceramics and glass from the first three decades of the 20th Century.
The offering inspired competitive bidding with seven American institutions acquiring works for their collections. Highlighting the offering was an extremely rare example of Marianne Brandt’s celebrated Tea Infuser, Model No. MT49 from 1927, which sold to a private American museum for $361,000, a record not only for Brandt at auction, but also for Bauhaus design.
Other highlights included examples of Theodore Wende’s most important and impressive works of his avant-garde period, an Important and Unique Tea Set, circa 1927, and an Important and Unique Coffee Service, circa 1926, which sold for $181,000 and $79,000 respectively.
Among the works purchased by public institutions was Albin Muller’s Punch Bowl, circa 1905, which sold for $18,750 to the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Lot 56
Marianne Brandt
An Important and Rare Tea Infuser
Model No. MT 49
ca. 1927
silver-plated bass and ebony
stamped 137 to the underside and the rim of the lid
Est. $300/500,000
Sold for $361,000
RECORD FOR THE DESIGNER AT AUCTION
RECORD FOR BAUHAUS DESIGN AT AUCTION
Lot 98
Prof. Theodor Wende
An Important and Unique Tea Service
ca. 1927
Comprising a teapot, creamer, sugar bowl and tray
Silver and ivory
Stamped with German hallmarks, 900 and Th. W.
Est. $60/80,000
Sold for $181,000