Wannenes Auctions: Transnational Modernism and Design Records

Wannenes' top lots conclude the first half of the year, signaling a market shift toward international geography while maintaining strong Italian design and decorative arts. The auction house's modern and contemporary art section featured Igor Mitoraj's 'Torso di donna con piede' (1995, black Belgian marble), which far exceeded its estimate, coinciding with the June 2026 opening of the Museo Igor Mitoraj in Pietrasanta. Tomonori Toyofuku's untitled 1961 carved wood sculpture sold for €56,400, highlighting postwar abstraction with Eastern influences. Pietro Dorazio's 'Avatar' (1972, oil on canvas, 250x50 cm), from Marlborough Gallery, Rome, fetched €52,650 against a €18,000-22,000 estimate, setting an auction record. In design, eight Gio Ponti model 969 chairs (Montina production, 1980s) sold for €20,150 (estimate €2,400-2,600), and a Grande lampada a sospensione model Pavone by Arredoluce (1960s) attracted interest. Two anonymous 'Esplorazione dei Poli' vases (1920s, silvered bronze) reached €20,000 (estimate €1,500-2,000), demonstrating rarity and style over authorship. A B.B.P.R. plafone lamp (Arteluce, 1960s) sold for €22,650. These results reflect a market where design, decorative arts, and contemporary art share valuation criteria: signature, provenance, rarity, and historical narrative. Wannenes' selection underscores a transnational modernism, with collectors seeking works that tell the story of the 20th century through cultural crossings.