With the Design Museum on the verge of opening its sparkling new West London doors, there's an autumn design buzz in London at the moment. Coinciding with this is another celebration of international design in the capital, Sotheby's ‘Design’ – the second edition of the house's relaunched design-centric sale (last year's was the first in half a decade) and a preceding exhibition at its New Bond Street space.
Following editions hosted in New York and Paris earlier this year, 'Design' London takes place on Tuesday 15 November, offering up a expansive list of 173 pieces. Exhibiting the products from tomorrow, the roster features 20th century pieces that span the classic and contemporary, functional and abstract, spending significant effort honing in on postmodern Scandinavian design with highlights from Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner and Peder Moos.
’Wall-mounted Chest’ by Gio Ponti, 1959
These minimalist masterpieces stand alongside Gio Ponti silhouettes from the 1930s–60s; whimsical Ron Arad chairs; and experimental forms from Italian stalwarts Ettore Sottsass and Andrea Branzi.
'Just like the city itself, our London "Design" sale is developing its own unique character,' says Laetitia Contat-Desfontaines, Sotheby's head of 20th century design sales. 'Exciting new initiatives such as the inaugural [London] Design Biennale at Somerset House and the fantastic new home for the Design Museum are putting design at the forefront of the cultural life of the city.'
’Monumental Bookcase’ by Ico Parisi
Contemporary lots include a marble table by Marc Newson, Studio Job’s playful 'Bottle Rack’, and clay sculptures by Maarten Baas, while extra special Picasso ceramics and Zaha Hadid prototypes show the team have most styles covered for discerning collectors.
‘Design’ follows an impressive display of David Bowie’s extensive art and design collection, marking a nuanced and successful stream of shows at the auction.
Left, five ’Klismos Model no. 5’ chairs by TH Robsjohn-Gibbings. Right, ’Gothic’ mirrored cabinet by Gabriella Crespi
Left, monumental ’Spade Form’ vase by Hans Coper, 1970. Right, ’Loop Loop’ chair by Ron Arad, 1992
Desk by Arne Jacobsen, 1952
A pair of ’Onkel-Stühle (Uncle Chairs)’ by Franz West
'Surface Table' prototype by Terence Woodgate and John Barnard, 2008
’9 Arm Wall/Ceiling Light’ by Angelo Lelii, 1950
'Daybed' by Peder Moos, 1944
INFORMATION
’Design’ takes place at Sotheby’s on 15 November. For more information, visit the Sotheby’s website
ADDRESS
Sotheby's
34–35 New Bond Street
London W1S 2RT
-
Each mundane object tells a story at Pace’s tribute to the everydayIn a group exhibition, ‘Monument to the Unimportant’, artists give the seemingly insignificant – from discarded clothes to weeds in cracks – a longer look
-
Discover The Legacy, Hong Kong’s eye-catching new condoThe Legacy, by ACPV Architects Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, is a striking new condo tower that aims to ‘create a sense of community and solidarity among people’
-
In BDSM biker romance ‘Pillion’, clothes become a medium for ‘fantasy and fetishism’Costume designer Grace Snell breaks down the leather-heavy wardrobe for the Alexander Skarsgård-starring Pillion, which traces a dom/sub relationship between a shy parking attendant and a biker
-
This Gustav Klimt painting just became the second most expensive artwork ever sold – it has an incredible backstorySold by Sotheby’s for a staggering $236.4 million, ‘Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer’ survived Nazi looting and became the key to its subject’s survival
-
Visual artists and musicians pair up to create unique artworks for charityMusic Shaped, an initiative by In Place Of War, invites visual and musical artists to collaborate on one-off artworks
-
Artists reflect on Kate Bush lyrics for a War Child auctionPeter Doig and Maggi Hambling are among artists interpreting Kate Bush’s 1985 track ‘Running Up That Hill’ for War Child’s online auction
-
A portrait of the artist: Sotheby’s puts Grayson Perry in the spotlightFor more than a decade, photographer Richard Ansett has made Grayson Perry his muse. Now Sotheby’s is staging a selling exhibition of their work
-
‘Art speaks to the world around us’: Victoria Beckham’s 10 favourite artworks go on show ahead of Sotheby’s auctionWorks by Victoria Beckham’s favourite artists go on show at her Dover Street, London store, before they are offered across Sotheby’s upcoming contemporary auctions in New York and London or sold privately
-
Radical modernity: Kim Jones on curating Charleston for Sotheby'sAs the newly appointed vice president of Charleston, Jones is curating a two-part selling and loan exhibition at Sotheby’s, ‘Radical Modernity: From Bloomsbury to Charleston’
-
FKA Twigs at Sotheby’s: healing, rawness and EusexuaFKA Twigs debuts durational artwork at Sotheby’s, London, to coincide with new album launch, Eusexua. Wallpaper’s Hannah Silver was there
-
Secret 7” is back with limited-edition vinyl cover art to aid War ChildSecret 7” returns with it charity auction of seven new mystery tracks sealed behind 700 uniquely designed vinyl cover sleeves (and anyone can bid)
