The market for design and decorative objects seems to have rebounded off the post-crash lows. This week presents a good test of the market with sales in Paris and Vienna. The Wall Street Journal‘s Margaret Struder previews the Joop sale and the various owner collections”

A star lot will be a unique lacquered sideboard decorated with wondrous animals that was created around 1930 by Printz, Switzerland’s lacquer master Jean Dunand and French artist Jean Lambert-Rucki (estimate: €300,000-€500,000). The animals on the cabinet were used in some accessories’ patterns for the autumn/winter 2009 collection for the Wunderkind fashion label, Mr. Joop’s womenswear collection.

In Christie’s Paris general design sale on the same day, there are also striking and rare objects such as the works by France’s Philippe Hiquily.

Also in Paris, Sotheby’s will hold its 20th-century decorative arts and design sale on Nov. 24. Plenty of high-power lots will be featured, including a unique surrealist bar from 1966 made from metal, brass and crystal by France’s François-Xavier Lalanne, a favorite designer of fashion’s Yves Saint Laurent. The bar looks made for magic nights and loads of martinis (estimate: €300,000-€500,000).

An Eclectic Lot of Furniture (Wall Street Journal)