La Maison de Verre Auction Fetches $17 Million with Christie’s Paris

The highly anticipated sale of Annie and Jean Dalsace’s collection established two world record prices for Pierre Chareau’s work

Cozy library with bookshelves, wooden furniture, art deco sofa, armchairs, potted plant, and floral arrangement.
La Maison de Verre. Photo: Christie’s

A beloved icon of modernist architecture, Pierre Chareau’s Maison de Verre in Paris continues to be a wellspring of inspiration nine decades after its completion. With an exterior composed of translucent glass blocks embedded in a gridded steel frame, the supremely chic Left Bank dwelling was commissioned by tastemakers Annie and Jean Dalsace, who filled the apartment with major works of art by Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, and Jean Lurçat.

Christie’s Paris auctioned the couple’s entire trove on October 7. In addition to the blue-chip works of art, there were more than two dozen pieces of Chareau furniture, among them rare chairs, desks, lamps, and even his famous Mouchoir game table—all a testament to his creative genius.

The sale brought in over $17.7 million in total—three times its presale estimates—and set a pair of new world auction records for furnishings by Chareau. The top lot was his MB 624 desk, which achieved almost $1 million, making it the most expensive desk by the architect ever sold at auction. All in all, the 51 Chareau lots represented the largest ensemble by the designer ever offered and fetched more than $12.5 million.

Modern industrial-style desk with wooden shelves and metal frame against a sleek, perforated metallic background.
Bureau ‘MB 624’, vers 1929 by Pierre Chareau fetched almost $1 million at auction. Photo: Christie’s

Cécile Verdier, President of Christie’s France, said in a statement: “It was such a privilege to present the historic collections from the Maison de Verre at Christie’s. After a very successful public exhibition in our Paris galleries, we are very pleased with the results achieved today which will remain for long a reference for the Pierre Chareau market. We want to thank deeply Marc Vellay, grandson of Annie and Jean Dalsace, and the Dalsace-Vellay family, who have entrusted us with their splendid collection in honor of this galaxy of avant-garde thinkers.”

Man in formal suit standing beside a piano in a room with abstract art on the walls.
Architect Pierre Chareau. Photo: Archives Vellay-Dalsace
Vintage office setup with typewriter, Monroe calculator, and a wooden file drawer on a table.
Bureau ‘MT 876’ by Pierre Chareau. Photo: Archives Vellay-Dalsace
Aerial view of a spacious library with bookshelves, art easel, green plants, and comfortable seating area.
La Maison de Verre. Photo: Christie’s
Vintage office lobby with large grid windows, black chairs, and plants creating a welcoming atmosphere.
La Maison de Verre. Photo: Archives Vellay-Dalsace
Vintage lounge area with a curved armchair, small table, and large windows overlooking a garden, creating a cozy atmosphere.
La Maison de Verre. Photo: Archives Vellay-Dalsace
A man and a woman sitting at a table engaged in conversation with flowers and books in the background.
Annie and Jean Dalsace. Photo: Archives Vellay-Dalsace

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2021 Fall Issue under the headline “Treasure House.” Subscribe to the magazine.