Eileen Gray room divider sells for $1.8m in New York

An Eileen Gray-made wooden screen, used as an apartment room divider, has sold at auction in New York for more than $1

An Eileen Gray-made wooden screen, used as an apartment room divider, has sold at auction in New York for more than $1.8 million. It was the highlight in a two-day sale of art deco items at Christie’s in Manhattan this week.

The lacquered and painted woodscreen was made in Paris in the 1920s.

The 6½ft-tall screen was owned by Steven Greenberg, a New York businessman, who had assembled one of the world’s finest art deco collections. He died earlier this year.

Gray (1878-1976) was born in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, but spent most of her life in France. She is regarded as one of the most influential furniture designers of the 20th century.

Michael Parsons

Michael Parsons

Michael Parsons is a contributor to The Irish Times writing about fine art and antiques