artnet Auctions Announces Important Selection of 20th Century and Contemporary Design

NEW YORK, NY.- artnet Auctions announces Design: The Museum Sale, an important selection of 20th century and Contemporary Design that is also represented in museum collections. These works, consigned by private collectors as well as dealers and galleries, explore the artistry and innovation present in many examples of design, seen in common objects as well as works made in limited quantities.

Brent Lewis, Head of Design at artnet Auctions notes, “Design has always been a focus of museum collections, and the collectors and dealers who have established this field have worked very hard to secure some of their most compelling works for preservation in museum collections. At the same time, so many of these objects, true with any multiple, are still to be found in the market. It is a great rarity to be able to have an object at home that also has characteristics that set it apart, so that it is accepted in great public collections around the world.”

Among the highlights, the Museum Sale will include an early example of George Nelson and Irving Harper’s iconic Marshmallow Sofa, which is held in the permanent collection of the Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein, Germany. The 1956 design employed new production techniques for injection plastic in combination with a simple yet powerful form of 18 cushion-discs, arranged on a steel frame. It signifies the advances achieved by Modern Design in the mid-20th century. As the Herman Miller catalogue noted after it was introduced, “Despite its astonishing appearance, this piece is very comfortable.”

The lots presented cross all categories of 20th century and Contemporary Design, and each lot description will note the museum collection in which it can be found.

Highlights include:
George Nelson and Irving Harper
An Early Marshmallow Sofa, c.1960
Est. US$25,000–33,000
Permanent collection, Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein

Joe Colombo
Tubo Chair, 1969–1970
Est. US$6,000–8,000
Permanent collection, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Poul Henningsen
PH Artichoke Lamp (Manufactured by Louis Paulsen), 1958
Est. US$5,000–7,000
Permanent collection, The Museum of Modern Art, New York

Gruppo G14
Fiocco Armchair, 1970
Est. US$4,500–6,500
Permanent collection, The Museum of Modern Art, New York

Tokujin Yoshioka
Honey-Pop Chair, 2007
Est. US$8,000–12,000
Permanent collection, The Museum of Modern Art, New York

Maarten Baas
‘Clay’ Dining Chair, 2007
Est. US$2,000–3,000
Permanent collection, Philadelphia Museum of Art

Visit the sale on artnet Auctions: www.artnet.com/auctions/design-sale-museum.

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