Tiffany Studios, Contemporary Glass, and Diego Giacometti Work Highlights Bonhams’ 20th Century Sale

NEW YORK, NY- On June 15th Bonhams 20th Century Decorative Arts Department will present one of the largest groups of Contemporary Glass to come to auction in recent years. The auction will offer almost sixty glass works, representing a wide selection of artists from the pantheon of Contemporary Glass making, including Tom Patti, Dale Chihuly, John Lewis, Marvin Lipofsky, William Morris, Richard Marquis, Dan Dailey, Laura de Santillana, and Stanislav Libensky & Jaroslava Brychtova.

Of note are two works by Stanislav Libensky and Jaroslava Brychtova titled Blue Pyramid (est. $50,000-70,000) and Bird (est. $40,000-60,000); Tom Patti’s 1971 Solar Riser (est. $12,000-18,000); and two rare, 1999 Figurative Floor Lamps by Dan Dailey each estimated at $50,000-70,000.

Pieces from Dale Chihuly’s Blanket, Basket, Seaform, and Macchia series will be offered, including a Monumental Macchia (est. $30,000-50,000) [pictured, right] which measures 22in x 35in.

Dale Chihuly (American, born 1941) Monumental Macchia. Estimate: $30,000 - 50,000. Photo: Bonhams

Also to be presented are Petrogliph, Standing Stone, and Shard vessels by William Morris, including a work called Orange Platter (est. $10,000-15,000) created by Morris at Pilchuck Studios in 1979.

Also of interest are two Richard Marquis works from his Teapot series, Small Murrina Teapot (est. $4,000-6,000) and Orange Teapot (est. $10,000-15,000); a 1976 Martin Lipofsky work, Untitled Form (est. $4,000-6,000); and four works by John Lewis tracing his personal glass history- Moon Vase, 1979 (est. $800-1,200), Cactus Flower, 1987 (est. $8,000-12,000), Stepped Vessel, 2000 (est. $5,000-7,000), and Glacier Coffee Table (est. $18,000-25,000), a large impressive work from 2009.

However, glass works are far from the only lots expected to attract bidders.

Highlighting the sale will be a fine Tiffany Studios Favrile glass and bronze Peony lamp 1899-1918 (pictured, top). Showing an array of rich red, wine, and pink tones and standing 24 ½ inches in height with its shade impressed TIFFANY STUDIOS NEW YORK 1475 62 it is estimated at $125,000-160,000.

Also of interest is an exceptional Diego Giacometti, pre 1960 Table Basse: Modèle aux cerfs et aux chiens. The glass and bronze table was acquired in the early 1960s and has remained in the family of the present owner. With another cast of this table having been illustrated in the 1986 book, Diego Giacometti, the lot is estimated at $80,000-120,000.

A fine and rare, circa 1900, Hector Guimard carved walnut sidechair will be presented. Designed for the Maison Coillot, it is offered with its original tooled and gilded leather upholstery. This chair design, both published and used in Guimard’s 1899-1900 Castel Henriette in Sevres, carries an estimate of $30,000-40,000

Another lot of note is a circa 1935 Eliel Saarinen pair of molded iron and aluminum andirons (pictured, left). Featured in the 1983 book Design in America: The Cranbrook Vision 1925-1950 the lot is estimated at $3,000-5,000.

Additionally, a rare, circa 1914 Louis Wain piece is expected to interest collectors. The glazed earthenware figure titled The Lucky Sphinx Cat is estimated at $6,000-9,000.