On Wednesday the 14th of September, Roseberys is thrilled to be presenting our second Design Since 1860 sale of the year. The earliest works on offer include glass pieces by Auguste Jean, an Aesthetic Movement desk and hall stand, ceramic tiles by William De Morgan, and Liberty & Co metalware. In Art Nouveau, we have works by Gallé, Daum and Carlo Bugatti, and in our Art Deco section, we are delighted to offer individual works by Keith Murray, Eric Ravilious, and Jean Despres as well as a unique and important bed by Edward James and Norris Wakefield design for Monkton House. Also included in the sale is a range of Studio Pottery from various periods and artists such as Elizabeth Raeburn and David Leach, as well as glass, ceramics, contemporary furniture, and lighting. In post-war design, we have highlights from Hans Wegner, Poul Kjærholm, Tom Dixon, and Antonio Citterio.
Our solo standout lot of the sale is lot 136 – a unique bed of historical importance designed in 1935 by poet and patron Edward James together with interior decorator Norris Wakefield. The bed was designed for the Map Room of Monkton House, West Sussex, which James inherited in 1935. James collaborated with Surrealist master Salvador Dali, architect Christopher Nicholson and Wakefield to transform the Lutyens designed Arts & Crafts Monkton House into a three-dimensional ideal of Surrealism. The project marked a fascinating exploration of realising Surrealism as a lived experience which pervaded everyday objects and spaces. It was this redesign of Monkton House that bore Surrealist masterpieces such as Dali’s Mae West Lips Sofa and his famous Lobster Telephone. This bed is playfully dramatic and recalls the swell of waves, reflecting the exaggerated theatricality of the house itself. The lot has an estimate of £20,000 to £40,000 and is sure to garner huge interest.
Rosebery’s is delighted to be able to offer a very substantial and important collection of vases by Constance Spry and other Fulham Pottery designers. Many of the works were featured in the exhibition at the Garden Museum last year and include designs rarely seen at auction. Most of the Fulham Pottery in this sale form part of the private collection of author and mid-century design specialist, Andrew Weaving. Weaving has written several books on mid-century design and has amassed this important collection of Fulham Pottery over many years. Lot 83, for example, is a Constance Spry wall pocket in the form of draped-cloth and tassels, and comes with an estimate of £2,500 to £3,500. Lot 84, the Crown and Lion vase which was designed in 1936, and later re-issued in 1953 for the coronation of Elizabeth II, is sure to attract fierce bidding. Jo Lloyd, the Head of Decorative Arts at Roseberys commented: “It’s really exciting to be able to offer so many works by Fulham Pottery in the same sale. Constance Spry is becoming more and more popular and we probably won’t see a collection as good as this again at auction for a very long time, if ever”.
Lot 56: Daisy Makeig-Jones for Wedgwood, Large 'Temple on a Rock'/'Dragon King' vase and cover
Other impressive vases being offered on September 14th include Lot 56, a Daisy Makeig-Jones ‘Temple on a Rock’ vase with cover. This is an exceptionally large and particularly unique pattern which is highly sought after and rarely seen at auction. In her Fairyland lustre range, Makeig-Jones took some inspiration from illustrations by the likes of Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac, or the Colour Fairy Books by Andrew Lang, but interpreted them to create magical worlds all of her own. Following a previous design known as Dragon King, she then created this variation, the Temple on a Rock, which stands at a tall 48cm high. The vase comes with an estimate of £6,000 to £8,000.
Lot 20: Martin Brothers, Lizards among foliage and berries vase
The Martin Brothers are represented in a collection of vases, including lot 20, a quirky design produced in 1895, featuring lizards among foliage and berries on a lovely dark ground, which is sure to appeal to collectors of Martin Brothers pottery. The vase has an estimate of £800 to £1,200.
Lot 32: WMF, Art Nouveau figural vase with liner, circa 1900
Among the many items of metalware included is lot 32, a fine WMF figural pewter vase with a delicately etched glass liner, which is highly representative of the Art Nouveau style. The elegant vase stands at 52cm and has an estimate of £500 to £800.
Lot 51: Carlo Bugatti (1856-1940), Octagonal side table, circa 1900
Also from the Art Nouveau era, is a small octagonal table by Carlo Bugatti (Lot 51). Typical of Bugatti’s very individual style with Moorish and Oriental influences, it features his trademark use of vellum and copper sunbursts. This rare statement piece, standing at 40.5cm, comes with a conservative £800 to £1,200 estimate.
Lot 205: Hans J. Wegner (1914-2007) for Fritz Hansen, Model '1935' Sofa
A name that needs no introduction in the world of design is Hans J. Wegner, lot 205 is a very scarce model ‘1935’ sofa. Produced by Fritz Hansen around 1950, this piece utilises bent plywood in the seat and backrest, making it light yet durable and giving it a sleek and effortlessly modern look. This rare piece comes with an auction estimate of £3,000 to £5,000.
Lot 214: Poul Kjaerholm (1929-1980) for E. Kold Christensen, Six 'PK9' dining chairs, circa 1960
Also featured in the modern design section of the sale is a set of six ‘PK9’ dining chairs designed by the inimitable Poul Kjærholm. Revered as one of the greats of 20th Century Design, the Danish designer stood out with his material preferences and elegant minimalist designs. This early set of dining chairs (dating from the 1960s) was produced by Kjærholm’s long-term collaborator E.Kold Christiansen, each chair bearing the manufacturer’s mark. This lot has an £8,000 to £12,000 estimate.
Lot 249: Mario Bellini (b.1935) for C&B/B&B Italia, 'Gli Scacchi' modular seating system
In Post Modern design, Roseberys are pleased to offer ten ‘Gli Scacchi’ modular sections by designer Mario Bellini (for B&B Italia) which make up a modular seating system. ‘Gli Scacchi’ sections rarely come up for auction in such high quantity and less so in all three colourways (black, red, and green). This lot is certainly a conversation piece and has a £2,000 to £3,000 estimate.
Lot 206 is a Brutalist pendant light produced by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen for Holm Sorensen & Co, circa 1970. Although little is known about the Danish designer, his distinctive lighting designs from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, continue to garner praise from design circles and collectors alike. This striking Brutalist work made from brass and lacquered metal measures 75cm high and comes with a £300 to £500 estimate.
Lot 337: Jim Partridge (b.1953), Faceted and scorched oak vessel
The final highlight from the Design Since 1860 sale is lot 337, a hand-crafted faceted and scorched oak vessel by Jim Partridge. The 22cm high vessel is polished to a high lustre and is a very attractive piece. Created in 1999, this piece exemplifies the continued importance of craft in design at the turn of the century. It comes with a £500 to £700 estimate.
Head of Modern Design at Roseberys, Nigel Dawson-Ellis said of the sale: “I feel the sale successfully encompasses a broad and diverse cross-section of design through the decades and it has been a privilege to work on. As always we have a fantastic range of mid-century design as well as a particularly strong contemporary section with some emerging names such as Liam Flynn and Jim Partridge as well as some potential names for the future”.
The auction will take place on Wednesday 14 September, 11.00 am
Viewing Times at Roseberys showroom:
Friday 9 September: 9.30 am - 5.00 pm
Sunday 11 September: 10.00 am - 2.00 pm
Monday 12 September: 9.30 am - 5..00 pm
Tuesday 13 September: 9.30 am - 5.00 pm
Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for condition reports and further information.
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