S otheby’s is delighted to present Design, an online auction with bidding open from 1 October through 7 October, 2021. The sale encompasses design across movements and materials, from Art Nouveau glass to contemporary furniture, featuring works by Tiffany Studios, Louis Majorelle, Gustav Stickley, Edgar Brandt, George Nakashima, Frank Gehry, Dale Chihuly and many more. Property will be available to view by appointment only.
Opening the sale is a fine selection of leaded glass lighting, favrile glass vases and elegant desk accessories by Tiffany Studios. Highlights include vibrant “Poppy” and “Nasturtium Trellis” chandeliers, as well as a highly detailed 33-piece “Zodiac” desk set.
Turn-of-the-century decorative arts by Louis Majorelle, Émile Gallé, Daum and Lötz capture the spirit of the Art Nouveau movement with their exquisite floral ornament and sinuous curves.
The sale continues with a refined grouping of furniture and stylish collectibles by the defining designers of Art Deco, including Edgar Brandt, Jean Dunand, Jean Goulden, Pierre Chareau and Jules Leleu.
American industry and innovation are represented by the streamlined designs of Norman Bel Geddes and Gilbert Rohde. Additional highlights include a grand table created by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for the Casa Encantada in Bel Air, California and a selection of American furniture offered on behalf of the Brooklyn Museum in support of their collections.
This chapter is anchored by a collection of works from the imaginative oeuvre of Piero Fornasetti, whose fantastical flair is balanced by the organic wood forms of Scandinavian masters Hans Wegner, Finn Juhl and Poul Kjaerholm.
Vivid colors and daring shapes abound in this section of art glass by Dale Chihuly, complemented by the pioneering work of fellow glass artist Harvey K. Littleton, ceramicists Beatrice Wood and Otto Natzler and self-taught wood turner Ed Moulthrop.
The sale closes with a curated offering of contemporary design, featuring iconic models like the “Half-Dollar” Chair by Johnny Swing, as well as a number of unique commissions from Maria Pergay, Mattia Bonetti, Ingo Maurer and more.
