Akari Light Sculptures Illuminate

Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988) was one of the 20th century’s most important and critically acclaimed sculptors. Through a lifetime of artistic experimentation, he created sculptures, gardens, furniture and lighting designs, ceramics, architecture, landscapes and set designs. His work was at once subtle and bold, traditional and modern. Noguchi’s Akari Light Sculptures are considered icons of modern […]

At Home with Danish Modern Furniture

In real estate circles, mid-century modern homes in good condition command premium prices, especially if owners have preserved original details and treated the property with TLC. The same phenomenon applies to auctions involving mid-century modern furniture, as evidenced by a March 6 Gallery Auction event in Houston. A well-kept three-piece sofa set by Ekornes, a […]

Unforgettable Desks? We Have Them

A recent “Design” auction at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) featured several desks created by prominent midcentury modern designers including Gio Ponti, Paul Evans and George Nelson. The collection was owned by the late Peter Loughrey, a collector, curator and founder of LAMA who frequently appeared on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow. Giovanni “Gio” Ponti (1891–1979) was […]

Sleaze Art

Sleaze appeal. Midcentury modern design is one of the biggest trends in collecting. Is it appealing because it now seems old-fashioned; maybe a relic of a simpler, more innocent time? Think again! The sleaze art of the period is catching on. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, writers of popular fiction were drawn to […]

High-Style Designs by Tommi Parzinger  

German modernist designer Tommi Parzinger (1903–1981) created furniture and lighting for affluent buyers. His most popular pieces were made in the late 1940s and ’50s and get high bids at auction. A recent sale at Palm Beach Modern in Florida offered more than a dozen iconic Parzinger pieces. Included was a white console table made […]

Walter Lamb Furniture

With outdoor entertaining undergoing a resurgence, iconic midcentury outdoor furniture is getting more attention. Furniture designed by Walter Lamb is considered some of the best from that era. Starting in 1947, Lamb designed patio and yard furniture with distinctive curved lines and durable materials for Brown Jordan, a company founded in 1945. Brown Jordan, still in […]

Midcentury Modern Storage Furniture

Finding enough storage is always challenging. Midcentury cabinets, drawers, and shelves by known designers are hot right now. They easily blend into most interiors and good prices can be found at auction. Wright in Chicago included a selection of modern storage pieces by midcentury designers like Eames and Nelson. Most sold for under $2,000. Husband […]

Midcentury Modern Furniture (1950s-’60s)

Q: I’ve heard that 1950s-’60s furniture is now collectible. We have a coffee table stamped “Declaration by Drexel” on the bottom. It also has numbers and “3/61.” There is a circle of 12 inlaid wood dots in the middle of the top. The top is 60 inches by 22 inches and the table is about […]