Ron Arad's Tel Aviv Opera desk closes at $171,612 in Paris art deco sale

Here's an update on the Ron Arad desk which we reported on a while back. It was designed by the Israeli industrial designer for the Tel Aviv Opera in 1993.

Arad constructed the desk from two lateral boxes, freeform patinated steel and cylindrical metal elements. The desk's kidney-shaped metal cut surface is particularly unique.

Despite the desk's original purpose, Arad kept the desk for his own personal use as evidenced by a number of post-it notes on the desk's draws.

Artist Ron Arad desk
Ron Arad's art deco desk, originally designed for the Tel Aviv Opera in 1993

You can't blame Arad for being attached to his own works. The artist's other projects have included designing the Design Museum Holon, the first museum in Israel dedicated to design.

Arad's other furniture pieces range from the sublime to the odd. His more unusual works include a unique two-door wardrobe constructed from patinated steel and then "battered" to resemble a dented leather case.

The wardrobe, dating to 1990, sold for $150,000 in New York in 2008.

 

RON ARAD, b. 1951 Unique two-door wardrobe410.jpg
Ron Arad's battered two-door wardrobe, which auctioned in 2008

The Tel Aviv Opera desk outsold Arad's wardrobe, bringing €130,834 ($171,612) in Paris on March 7.

Such rising market values are evidence of the growing demand for Ron Arad's unusual furniture pieces among collectors.

Paul Fraser Collectibles has a number of antique pieces currently available, proving that great design has always been in vogue.

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