Artist profile · Market guide
Eileen Gray
1878–1976 · Ireland and Paris. Lacquer artist, designer and architect – creator of the most expensive piece of 20th-century design ever sold at auction.
From lacquer to modernism
Eileen Gray was born in 1878 in Enniscorthy, Ireland, studied at the Slade School in London and moved to Paris, where she learned the demanding technique of Japanese lacquer with the craftsman Seizo Sugawara. Her lacquered screens and furniture made her one of the most admired designers of the Art Deco years.
In 1922 she opened her own shop, Galerie Jean Désert, in Paris. At the same time her work became more radical: tubular steel, glass and cork, flexible furniture for modern living. With Jean Badovici she designed the villa E-1027 at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin (1926–29), a key work of modernist architecture – for which she also created famous pieces such as the adjustable E-1027 side table.
For decades she was overlooked. Her rediscovery culminated in 2009, when her Dragons armchair from the collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé sold at Christie's in Paris for €21.9 million – almost ten times its estimate, and a record for 20th-century design at auction.
Timeline
- 1878Born on 9 August in Enniscorthy, Ireland.
- 1900Studies at the Slade School of Fine Art, London.
- 1906Settles in Paris; learns lacquer with Seizo Sugawara.
- 1922Opens Galerie Jean Désert.
- 1926–29Designs the villa E-1027 with Jean Badovici.
- 1976Dies on 31 October in Paris.
- 2009Dragons armchair sells for €21.9 million.
Techniques and media
With Gray, the crucial question is: period original, later licensed production, or unlicensed copy?
Lacquer work
Screens, panels and furniture in traditional Japanese lacquer – rare and extremely valuable.
Furniture
Unique and early pieces such as the Dragons armchair, the Bibendum chair and the Transat chair.
Tubular steel and glass
Modernist designs such as the E-1027 side table.
Carpets
Rugs with abstract designs from her own workshop.
Architecture
E-1027 and Tempe à Pailla – her buildings in the south of France.
What Eileen Gray works sell for
Prices below are public auction results. They show the range – not what a specific piece is worth.
Unique and early pieces from Gray's own workshop – led by the Dragons armchair (2009).
Many Gray designs are produced under licence today. They are new furniture, not antiques.
Copies of the E-1027 table or Bibendum chair are widespread and have no collector value.
Highest auction results
| Work | Price | Auction |
|---|---|---|
| Dragons armchair, 1917–19 | €21.9m ($28m) | Christie's Paris, 2009 |
The chair came from the collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé; the estimate was €2–3 million.
Real or not? What to check
Most «Eileen Gray» furniture on the market is a later licensed production or a copy. Only a very small number of pieces were made by Gray herself or her workshop. Documentation and expert examination are essential.
- Date of production: Is there evidence that the piece was made during Gray's lifetime, in her workshop?
- Licence marks: Licensed editions usually carry a label or stamp of the manufacturer.
- Materials: Period lacquer and construction differ markedly from modern production.
- Provenance: For period pieces, a traceable history back to Gray's clients is decisive.
Is my Eileen Gray table valuable?
Almost always, an E-1027 side table on the market is a later licensed product or a copy – useful furniture, but not a collector's item. Period originals are extremely rare.
Do you own a work attributed to Eileen Gray?
Start with a free estimate from photos. For a sale, insurance or an estate, order a written appraisal by an independent expert with a notarized signature.
Sources (auction figures as published there):
- HuffPost – Chair bought for $28 million at Christie's Yves Saint Laurent auction
- Barnebys – The story of Dragons, the world's priciest chair
ArtworkValue is not affiliated with the estate of Eileen Gray or the licensed manufacturers. This page does not offer works by Eileen Gray for sale.