LONDON – 15 APRIL 2025 – Phillips is pleased to unveil highlights from the upcoming Design auction, to be held in London on 30 April. Leading the sale are Shiro Kuramata’s celebrated 'Miss Blanche' chair, designed in 1988 and Judy Kensley McKie’s ‘Leopard Couch’ from 1983. The auction will also feature a selection of Mid-Century French design, including works by Jean Royère, Line Vautrin as well as important examples of Italian design from Ettore Sottsass, Jr., Gio Ponti, and Carlo Scarpa. Additional highlights include Nordic, Art Deco, and ceramic works by Josef Frank, Ivan da Silva Bruhns, and Lucie Rie. The full catalogue will be available to view online on 15 April, with a public exhibition opening on 24 April in advance of the sale.

Domenico Raimondo, Phillips’ Head of Department, Europe, and Senior International Specialist, said, “We’re excited to present highlights from our first live Design auction of 2025. After a fantastic year in 2024, with Design auction sell-through rates exceeding 90%, we’re eager to maintain momentum. This Spring auction features a carefully curated selection of iconic works by some of the 20th and 21st centuries’ most celebrated designers—from rare Gio Ponti pieces for Casa Lucano and Casa Ceccato to Judy Kensley McKie’s bold zoomorphic design. We look forward to welcoming visitors to the preview exhibition opening on 24 April.”

Post-Modern and Contemporary

One of Shiro Kuramata’s most recognised designs is the ‘Miss Blanche’ chair, an acrylic armchair designed as a tribute to protagonist Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams’ seminal 1947 play, A Streetcar Named Desire. The chair comprises four transparent acrylic blocks, three encasing a scattering of artificial red roses.

Judy Kensley McKie’s 'Leopard Couch' epitomises McKie’s philosophy of blending beauty with utility and is a striking testament to her unique artistry. Crafted from mahogany and adorned with dynamic leopard motifs, it radiates symmetry, movement, and playful elegance. McKie’s works are exceptionally rare – with no more than eight pieces crafted annually.

Further Post-Modern and Contemporary highlights include pieces by Marc Newson, Ron Arad and a unique work by Gaetano Pesce.

Mid-Century French Design

Mid-Century French design highlights include Jean Royère’s ‘Ondulation’ coffee table, circa 1947, and a Room Divider originally from the late 1950s São Paulo apartment of the Jakubowicz family. By this time, Royère had established a global presence, with branches in Cairo, Beirut, Tehran, and Lima, with his furnishings highly sought after by discerning collectors in Brazil, including the Jakubowicz family. Installed at right angles to the main entrance, the divider cleverly delineated the open-plan space, separating the hallway from the dining area. Also featured among the Mid-Century French design highlights is Line Vautrin’s ‘Soleil à Pointes' mirror, model no. 3 and Rare table lamp.

Mid-Century Italian Design

Ettore Sottsass Jr.’s Early and rare lidded jar reflects his deep appreciation for gestural art through its engraved surface, and his love for East Asian culture in the wooden handle and cord. There are only two unique examples of the present model known to exist.

Originally commissioned by Mr Ceccato, the present Unique desk was designed by Gio Ponti for the reception room of the Ceccato family’s Milanese villa. Crafted in radica noce ferrarese, it features undulating vertical supports and splayed legs terminating in elongated brass sabots—evoking the elegance of 16th-century Italian Mannerism. The auction will also feature Ponti’s Illuminated cabinet from the same commission. Additional highlights of Mid-Century Italian design include a Ceiling light by Carlo Scarpa, as well as a Low table and Two-seater sofa designed by Ponti and executed by master cabinetmaker Giordano Chiesa for Ponti’s 1951 Casa Lucano in Milan. The Casa Lucano apartment, coined Casa di Fantasia by Ponti in a notable 1952 Domus article, was one of Ponti’s most ambitious domestic projects.

A Nordic design highlight of the sale is Josef Frank’s 'Flora' cabinet, designed in 1938 and executed in 1965, an example from the early years of his enduring collaboration with Svenskt Tenn. Referencing 17th century European forms and richly layered with botanical prints, the cabinet exemplifies Frank’s design philosophy celebrating individuality and ornament. Additional sale highlights include Art Deco design by Ivan da Silva Bruhns and studio ceramics by Lucie Rie.

Auction: 30 April 2025, 2pm

Auction viewing: 24 – 30 April 2025

Location: 30 Berkeley Square, London, United Kingdom, W1J 6EX

(Press Release)