Our Design & Contemporary auction, taking place on Tuesday 5 August 2025, features curated lots spanning from the late 19th century to the present day. From studio ceramics and lighting to mid-century furniture and sculpture, well-known design classics appear alongside exceptional rarities. Here, we highlight seven key pieces that illustrate the range of this exciting sale.
It is fitting to begin with an item that holds a world auction record, achieved by Chiswick Auctions in December 2022 at £16,250.
Alfred Dunhill’s Aquarium Lighters, produced between 1949 and 1959, are miniature works of art designed as luxury accessories for discerning clientele. Crafted from Lucite, a wartime material known for its clarity and durability, each lighter is unique, featuring hand-carved reverse intaglios, often created using dentist tools.
Artists such as Ben Shillingford, and later Margaret and Allan Bennett, contributed to the production from a home studio on England’s south coast. Their meticulous collaboration brought vibrant underwater scenes to life in miniature form, making these lighters highly collectible artefacts of post-war design.
This rare modular design by Joe Colombo, created in 1967, epitomises the space-age aesthetic of the 1960s. Colombo, based in Milan, envisioned a versatile furniture system where components could be combined for multiple configurations. For example, the armchair and pouffe can be connected to form a daybed.
His futuristic forms, influenced by technological optimism, were echoed in cinema classics such as 2001: A Space Odyssey. This piece exemplifies Colombo’s vision of dynamic and adaptable living, using colour, form and function in innovative ways.
One of the most iconic lighting designs of the 20th century, the ‘Arco’ lamp has been in continuous production since 1962. Designed by the Castiglioni brothers for Flos, the lamp features a Carrara marble base, a stainless steel arching arm, and a spun aluminium shade.
Inspired by street lighting, this piece was created to illuminate a space such as a dining table without the need for ceiling fixtures. With its elegant reach of 2.5 metres, the Arco reflects the brothers’ belief that design should solve real-world problems through ingenuity and intelligent use of materials.
A masterpiece of mid-century design, Eero Saarinen’s Tulip table, created for Knoll International in 1956, remains a favourite for its elegant simplicity. Saarinen, trained as both architect and sculptor, eliminated the traditional four-legged table to create a sleek, single-pedestal silhouette.
This example, with its marble oval top and chamfered edge, showcases the seamless blend of form and function. Its versatility makes it an enduring choice for both modern and traditional interiors. Saarinen’s visionary work continues to influence design globally, even decades after his untimely death at 51.
Daisy Makeig-Jones (British 1881-1945) for Wedgwood 'Elves and Bell Branch' Estimate £2,000 - £3,000
Among the standout ceramic works is Lot 16, part of a group (Lots 15–18) showcasing Fairyland Lustreware by Daisy Makeig-Jones. Appointed lead designer at Wedgwood in 1914, which was unusual for a woman at the time, she brought vivid imagination to porcelain, creating fantastical scenes of fairies, goblins and otherworldly creatures.
Introduced in 1915, Fairyland Lustreware is notable for its rich iridescent glazes, jewel tones, and gold detailing. Popular in 1920s America, the range was discontinued after the Wall Street Crash. Surviving pieces are now highly sought after, representing a unique period in Wedgwood’s history.
Georges Jouve (French 1910-1964) Seaweed Green Fish Vase, circa 1949, Estimate £30,000 - £50,000
Georges Jouve, one of the most influential modernist ceramicists of the post-war era, began as a painter and decorator before turning to ceramics during the Second World War. After escaping internment, he settled in Dieulefit, a Provençal village with a rich pottery tradition.
Produced during his early Paris studio period, this Green Fish Vase exemplifies his use of enamelled stoneware with expressive forms and rich glazing. Jouve’s later works are known for their black satin finishes and vibrant colours. His pieces are now centrepieces in major museum collections across the world.
Isamu Noguchi’s sculptural approach to lighting culminated in his Akari Light Sculptures, a series started in 1951 using handmade Shoji paper and bamboo frames. The name Akari, meaning both light and weightlessness in Japanese, reflects Noguchi’s intent to create objects that are visually and physically light.
The Akari 10A floor lamp, produced by Vitra, is a timeless example from the series. It bears Noguchi’s signature and stylised sun-and-moon logo, marking authenticity. Noguchi’s work spans sculpture, furniture, theatre design and landscape architecture, reflecting his belief that everything is sculpture.
View full sale catalogue here
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