20th-century Design: It’s a Date

With over 630 items of superb quality and diverse style and function, this 20th-century Design sale is perfect for those looking to style homes or offices in modern fit-out. The auction is taking place on Tuesday 8 October from 10am at Sworders, a Stansted-based house, which has been operating since 1782 (making it one of the longest established fine art auction houses in the UK). 

Within the sale we find outstanding examples of pottery and porcelain, posters and lithographs, artworks, stools, chairs, cabinets, desks, dining tables, benches, clocks, mirrors, glassware, tapestries, musical instruments and ephemera, and much, much more. The objects traverse arts & crafts to art nouveau, art deco and modern design . 

Let’s not waste any time and dive straight in.

Among the first selection of lots is a collection of Doulton stoneware, including ewers, biscuit barrels, bowls, vases, jugs and more. 

Henry Doulton was synonymous with high quality, large scale production of non-porous stoneware drainage pipes. These were the key component of the sewage works which helped modernise Victorian London and saved millions of lives. He was approached by the Lambeth School of Art who persuaded him to establish an Art Pottery in 1862. Among the talented decorators was the Barlow family of Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, four of whom worked for Doulton. The best known, and perhaps most collected, was Hannah Barlow (1851-1961) born in Little Hadham. Her sister, Florence, who also worked for Doulton, was born in Bishop’s Stortford.

This pair of walnut and bird’s-eye maple bedside chests are stunning examples of Art Deco design and craftsmanship. Each chest comes with three drawers and a shelf to one side, with Bakelite handles. They each measure 54 cm wide, 46 cm deep, and 69 cm high.

This silvered bronze figure is another exquisite example of Art Deco design and style, captured particularly in the work’s smooth and swooping edges, curved, almost geometric lines, and angled arrangement.

The work is titled The Comet and inscribed ‘Guiraud-Rivière Etling, Paris’ on a marble plinth, denoting the work’s creator: Maurice Guiraud-Rivière (1881-1947), an eminent French sculptor and designer of the Art Deco period whose work survives primarily in bronze. 

A fun and funky piece of design, this Olivetti Valentine typewriter was designed by Ettore Sottsass (1917-2007). The piece may lack its case, but not its history: the Valentine typewriter was probably the most famous of Olivetti's typewriters, and this signature red colour the most popular. 

The body is made largely of shiny ABS plastic, while the case has a heavy matte texture, and some key structural pieces (like the ends of the platen) are of painted metal. The bright orange caps of the ribbon reels perk up the actual mechanism, something which is often hidden from view with other typewriters.

An iconic and stylish duo, this lot comprises both a 670 and 671 lounge chair and ottoman, designed by none other than Charles and Ray Eames. 

The pieces were manufactured by Hille, with leather and walnut veneered seats, the leather worn and distressed. They are labelled ‘Made by Hille of London Ltd., Herman Miller-Zeeland-Michigan, Charles Eames Design’. 

Though there are many more pieces we could admire, we end this small preview of lots with a sampling of items by Atelier Fornasetti. From stools (some of which cheekily depict a pair of buttocks), to an umbrella stand, a tray, lamp, side tables and cushions, these pieces are first and foremost iconic. 

Atelier Fornasetti is inspired by the words of Piero Fornasetti. Born in Milan in 1913, Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988) was a versatile and eclectic artist, interior decorator and a cultural event organiser. A painter, sculptor and art book printer, he is difficult to ascribe to a specific movement. He designed sets, costumes, and an infinity of objects, and is characterised by an unstoppable creative flair that made him one of the most prolific figures of the 20th century. 

Explore all items available at Sworders here