The Design Auction season is back on track and Phillips present an exceptional line up of creations by design icons of the 20th century on November 12th in London.

168 lots are presented this time at the Beckerley Square Showroom in London. As usual, here is my personal selection without any commercial ties to the auction house.

You can browse the catalogue here or visit the website for the full selection.

Lot 1 - Chauffeuse by Jean Royère

Chauffeuse (ca 1936).

Ebonised wood, hide, leather.

74.5 x 50.8 x 94.4 cm

Estimate: GBP 15,000 - 20,000 (sold for GBP 233,100)

Lot 3 – Rare dressing table & 'Superleggera' side chair, model no. 699 by Gio Ponti

Designed for the XI Milan Triennale (ca 1957). Plastic-laminated wood, painted wood, mirrored glass, brass, ash, straw.

Dressing table: 110 x 119.6 x 64.5 cm - Chair: 82.2 x 40.2 x 45.7 cm. Table manufactured by Giordano Chiesa, Milan; chair manufactured by Cassina, Meda. Together with a certificate of expertise from the Gio Ponti Archives.

Estimate: GBP 20,000 - 30,000 (sold for GBP 35,280)

Lot 7 – Rare dining table (ca 1950) by Piero Bottoni

Partially ebonised mahogany-veneered wood, mahogany, ebonised mahogany. 75.7 x 310 x 102.2 cm. Together with a certificate of expertise from the Piero Bottoni Archive.

Estimate: GBP 40,000 - 60,000 (sold for GBP 403,200)

Lot 20 – Wall-mounted console by Lucio Fontana and Osvaldo Borsani

Designed for the dining room of Casa S., Milan (ca 1950)

Marble, gilded and painted wood.
99.6 x 260.2 x 47.6 cm

Produced by Arredamenti Borsani, Varedo, Italy. Together with a certificate of expertise from the Osvaldo Borsani Archive.

Estimate: GBP 100,000 - 150,000 (sold for GBP 1,135,700)

Lot 37 – Vase from the 'Caleidoscopio' series (2005) by Yoichi Ohira

Hand-blown glass canes with murrine, granular and powder inserts, battuto and carved surface.

16.4 cm high

Executed by Andrea Zilio, master glassblower, and Giacomo Barbini, master cutter and grinder, Murano, Italy.

Underside incised Yoichi Ohira/m° A. Zilio/m° G. Barbini/Tuesday 31-5-2005/murano/1 / 1 unico and with artist's cipher.

Estimate: GBP 8,000 - 12,000 (sold for GBP 9,450)

Lot 42 – Pair of stools (ca. 1938) by Jean-Michel Frank

Gilt iron, leather. Each: 45 x 50 x 38 cm

Produced by Comte, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Together with a certificate of authenticity from the Comité Jean-Michel Frank.

Estimate: GBP 20,000 - 30,000 (sold for GBP 60,480)

Lot 44 – Unique table (ca. 1973) by Beverly Pepper

Polished and brushed stainless steel. 91 x 428.8 x 169.9 cm

Estimate: GBP 25,000 - 35,000 (sold for GBP 40,320)

Lot 49 – Unique double desk (ca 1954) by Melchiorre Bega

Reverse-painted glass, walnut-veneered wood, walnut, brass. Desk: 80 x 173.8 x 76 cm - Desk attachment: 64.5 x 85.5 x 43.3 cm - Overall: 80 x 214 x 85.5 cm

Estimate: GBP 8,000 - 12,000 (sold for GBP 10,080)

Lot 62 – Pair of lounge chairs (ca 1968) by George Nakashima

Stained East-Indian rosewood, seagrass. Each: 77.5 x 56.3 x 68 cm

Produced by the National Design Institute, Ahmedaba, India. Number 2 and 4 from the edition of 29. Each frame with metal label impressed N D D B/029 / 0002 and N D D B/029 / 0004, respectively. Together with a letter from Mira Nakashima.

Estimate: GBP 10,000 - 15,000 (sold for GBP 40,320)

Lot 73 – Pair of monumental lanterns (1940s) by Fontana Arte

Glass, painted steel, steel.

Each: 231 x 60.5 x 26.7 cm

Manufactured by Fontana Arte, Milan, Italy.

Estimate: GBP 20,000 - 30,000

Lot 99 – 'V' desk by Hans J. Wegner

Model JH563, designed in 1950, produced early 1960s, teak-veneered wood, teak, oak. 74.5 x 172 x 83 cm

Executed by master cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Underside impressed JOHANNES HANSEN/COPENHAGEN/DENMARK and with manufacturer's stamp.

Estimate: GBP 6,000 - 8,000 (sold for GBP 18,900)