The auction of a private collection of art deco furniture and art objects smashed records last week and raised nearly $83-million, Christie’s Paris said yesterday.

The sale saw the highest price ever raised at auction for a collection of 20th-century decorative art — $70-million — the auction house said. Nineteen new world auction records were also set. The auctioned items came from the collection of Simone and Claude Dray, and also included modern and contemporary artworks. The records included $5.7-million for a pair of chased and gilt bronze jardinieres by Armand Albert Rateau — the highest price raised at auction for a 20th-century art object.

The 296-object collection was amassed over a 25-year period by the Paris couple.

Posted: 06|12|06 at 8:50 am. Filed under: Auction News.