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Wright's Mass Modern auction features a nice selection of pieces by prolific American designer Gilbert Rohde. His lounge chair of leather and chrome-plated steel has a $2,000-$3,000 estimate. Images courtesy Wright.

Wright’s Mass Modern sale June 27 affordable by design

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Wright's Mass Modern auction features a nice selection of pieces by prolific American designer Gilbert Rohde. His lounge chair of leather and chrome-plated steel has a $2,000-$3,000 estimate. Images courtesy Wright.
Wright’s Mass Modern auction features a nice selection of pieces by prolific American designer Gilbert Rohde. His lounge chair of leather and chrome-plated steel has a $2,000-$3,000 estimate. Images courtesy Wright.

CHICAGO – Wright’s third annual Mass Modern auction, a popular daylong sale featuring 600 lots of 20th-century design, will be June 27. Furniture and accessories will span the century and emphasize well-designed and affordable items. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

“It’s a fun day. Beginning collectors, design enthusiasts and just plain bargain-hunters come out, and no one complains about the prices,” said Richard Wright of Wright Inc.

At last year’s auction prices ranged from $30 to more than $13,000. The average cost per lot was $1,200 and more than 50 items sold for less than $100.

“There will definitely be something for everyone,” said Wright, who emphasized that nearly all of the lots will be offered without reserves.

Among the designers represented in the sale will be Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, Paul McCobb and Milo Baughman.

Many pieces by American designer Gilbert Rohde, who had a long association with Herman Miller Furniture Co., will be sold to the highest bidders. A walnut, glass and Lucite china cabinet he designed for Herman Miller about 1940 is the right size for an apartment: 36 inches wide, 50 1/4 inches high and 14 inches deep. It carries a $3,000-$4,000 estimate.

Also by Herman Miller is a Gilbert Rohde walnut dining table measuring 70 inches long by 34 1/2 inches wide. Two 16-inch leaves extend the length to 102 inches. The early 1940s table has a $5,000-$7,000 estimate.

Several sets of chairs will be sold, including designs by Hans Wegner, Ettore Sottsass and Gae Aulenti. A set of six Sottsass Mandarin chairs by Knoll International was made in Italy in 1983 and has a $2,000-$3,000 estimate. Fourteen of Aulenti’s lacquered aluminum with leather upholstery side chairs, manufactured by Knoll in 1976, have a $3,000-$5,000 estimate.

Danish Modern furniture will include a Finn Juhl buffet made by Baker in 1955. Constructed of walnut with woven cane inserts in the two sliding doors, the buffet is 78 inches long, 31 inches high ad 18 inches deep. It has a $2,000-$3,000 estimate.

An example of the more affordable items in the sale is an Alvar Aalto L-leg occasional table with a 26-inch diameter top. Made by Finsven in Finland around 1945, the birch table has a $500-$700 estimate.   

The auction will be conducted at Wright’s gallery at 1440 W. Hubbard St. in Chicago. For details call 312-563-0020. The sale will begin at 10 a.m. Central. Previews will run June 22-26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet during the sale at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Conceptual artist Lawrence Weiner titled his 1989 table and bench ‘What Is Set Upon the Table Sits Upon the Table.' The pieces are constructed of tiger oak and copper and have a $5,000-$7,000 estimate. Images courtesy Wright.
Conceptual artist Lawrence Weiner titled his 1989 table and bench ‘What Is Set Upon the Table Sits Upon the Table.’ The pieces are constructed of tiger oak and copper and have a $5,000-$7,000 estimate. Images courtesy Wright.
Carl Hansen & Son produced these lacquered wood dining chairs designed by Hans Wegner in 1960. The set of 10 has a $4,000-$6,000 estimate. Images courtesy Wright.
Carl Hansen & Son produced these lacquered wood dining chairs designed by Hans Wegner in 1960. The set of 10 has a $4,000-$6,000 estimate. Images courtesy Wright.
Knoll introduced the Eero Saarinen Grasshopper chair in 1946. This example without an ottoman is estimated at $2,000-$3,000. Images courtesy Wright.
Knoll introduced the Eero Saarinen Grasshopper chair in 1946. This example without an ottoman is estimated at $2,000-$3,000. Images courtesy Wright.
The New Hope School wall-mounted cabinet was handmade of walnut in the early 1970s. It measures 85 inches long by 10 3/4 inches high by 12 inches deep. It has a $5,000-$7,000 estimate. Images courtesy Wright.
The New Hope School wall-mounted cabinet was handmade of walnut in the early 1970s. It measures 85 inches long by 10 3/4 inches high by 12 inches deep. It has a $5,000-$7,000 estimate. Images courtesy Wright.