VAN NUYS, Calif. — Some of the most important names in 20th-century furniture design are represented in the upcoming Design Auction at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) on Wednesday, February 28. The complete catalog is now available for bidding at LiveAuctioneers.
The 202-lot sale is headed by this rocking chair from Sam Maloof (1916-2009). It was acquired directly from the artist in 1989 and is marked No. 45 1989 Sam Maloof f.A.C.C. ? to the underside. Described in the lot notes as being in ‘very good vintage condition,’ the chair is estimated at $20,000-$30,000.
Luisa, Marchesa Casati Stampa di Soncino (1881-1957) was an Italian heiress, muse, and art patron — along with being something of a public eccentric. According to LAMA, the marquess commissioned this bench from furniture designer Carlo Bugatti (1856-1940). Featuring what appears to be Arabic script decorations and what remains of the original silk tassels, the underside provides the tell, with Casati marked there. The bench is estimated at $20,000-$30,000.
The Larkin family of Maple Glen, Pennsylvania made a wise choice when they ordered this cabinet from Nakashima Studios in 1957. Now debuting at auction some 67 years after purchase, the cabinet is in fine condition and comes with a digital copy of the original purchase order. It is estimated at $20,000-$30,000.
The sale includes 17 works by Jacques Adnet (1900-1984), the renowned French designer best remembered for his innovative use of leather and metal in his furniture. This sideboard cabinet is constructed of saddle-stitched leather over steel with oak and brass elements. It is dated to around 1955 and carries an estimate of $10,000-$15,000.
No 20th-century furniture sale would be complete without an example from Charles and Ray Eames. The husband-and-wife design powerhouse created La Chaise for the 1948 International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Design at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. However, it was not actually produced for retail until the 1990s by Vitra in Switzerland. This example is from around 2000 and is made of lacquered polyester resin, chrome-plated steel, and oak and is estimated at $3,000-$5,000.
