Kathleen Eileen Moray Gray

August 9, 1878 – October 31, 1976 

Shortly after WW2, she turned her interests to architecture and furniture design. Her circular glass E-1027 table and rotund Bibendum armchair were inspired by the tubular steel experiments of Marcel Breuer at the Bauhaus (who had been inspired, in turn, by Mart Stam).  

In 1968, Gray agreed to production of her Bibendum chair and E-1027 table as well as numerous other pieces with Zeev Aram. They were soon to become modern furniture classics. Following the purchase of her archive in 2002, the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks, Dublin opened a permanent exhibition of her work. On 8 November 1972, the Doucet sale added to the interest which continues to this day in the 'antiques' of the twentieth century. Gray's 'Le Destin' screen was featured in the sale and went for $36,000. Collectors entered the chase, and Yves Saint Laurent's interest completed the mystification of her image. 

In February 2009, a "Dragons" armchair made by Gray between 1917-1919 (acquired by her early patron Suzanne Talbot and later part of the Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé collection) was sold at auction in Paris for 21.9 million euros (US$28.3 million), setting an auction record for 20th century decorative art 

Source:  Wikipedia  

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