Modernist decor goes for a million

Saying “so long” to a rare, 1953 chair by Frank Lloyd Wright may not have been easy for Michael and Gabrielle Boyd, Santa Monica collectors of Modernist furniture who put a chunk of their holdings on sale Sunday at Christie’s in London. But parting with the hexagonal seat, made of aluminum and red vinyl upholstery, had its rewards as it fetched $99,279, more than triple the auction house’s pre-sale estimate.

A 1928 zebra-hide chaise longue designed by Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret brought in nearly $70,000, almost three times the anticipated top bid.

Overall, Christie’s said, the auction grossed just over $1 million, with 88% of the items sold. The pared-down collection still contains about 1,000 pieces, according to Michael Boyd.

-- Mike Boehm