Auction alert: 20th Century and Modern Interior Design

YNGVE EKSTROM for Swedese, Sweden 'Lamino' laminated frame chair & footstool

This week’s featured auction is the 20th Century and Modern Interior Design sale taking place at Burstow & Hewett in Battle, East Sussex. 134 lots will go under the hammer on Thursday 27th January 2022 from 10am.

It’s not very often that I look at an auction catalogue and like so many of the lots. It’s like a mid-century modern lover’s idea of heaven! Quality vintage furniture, art glass and rare fabrics.

Leaving live bids via their website incurs a 24% (inc. VAT) commission fee. You may also bid via Easyliveauction where you’ll pay either a 3.6% (inc. VAT) commission on the hammer price or a £3.00 flat fee. Alternatively, you can bid live on The Saleroom website who charge 6% (inc. VAT). Burstow & Hewett has a handy fee calculator on its website.

B & H is happy to post small items such as jewellery and watches and they recommend a number of other shippers and couriers for larger and more fragile items.

SARAH PETERSON Caithness limited-edition glass sculpture

Lot 1502: SARAH PETERSON, Caithness, a limited edition glass sculpture
Nr 61/100, inscribed to base, height 17cm. Good condition. Inscription reads “Caithness, Scotland, Set Ring 5910? 61/100
Estimate: £30 – £50

ERIC HOGLUND for Ystad, a four branch 1950/60s wrought iron candelabrum

Lot 1503: ERIC HOGLUND for Ystad, a four branch 1950/60s wrought iron candelabrum
Height 33cm. Good condition
Estimate: £150 – £250

JOE COLUMBO for Alessi clock, optic model 02

Lot 1524: JOE COLUMBO for Alessi
Designed 1970, a clock optic model 02. Good condition
Estimate: £50 – £80

YNGVE EKSTROM for Swedese, Sweden 'Lamino' laminated frame chair & footstool

Lot 1548: YNGVE EKSTROM for Swedese, Sweden, a ‘Lamino’ laminated frame chair
With natural lambs wool upholstery and matching ottoman, designed 1956, makers marks on frame, height 102cm
Estimate: £800 – £1,200

6 'Parisienne' pattern dinner plates

Lot 1555: 6 Parisienne pattern dinner plates
Together with 2 smaller plates (8), largest diameter 25.5cm
Estimate: £30 – £50

JOHN AND SYLIVA REID for Stag Furniture 'C' range writing desk

Lot 1559: JOHN AND SYLIVA REID for Stag Furniture, a “C” range desk/dressing table
In oak finish, H75cm, L88cm, D46cm. Some surface wear and watermarks, maker’s label in drawer, no restoration or repairs
Estimate: £80 – £120

JAN JOHANNSEN for Orrefors 'Northern Lights' Ariel glass bowl

Lot 1572: JAN JOHANNSEN for Orrefors, an Ariel glass bowl
“Northern Lights”, designed 1974, signed and numbered 397 E-4, height 12.5cm, diam 17.6cm.
Estimate: £400 – £600

Vintage Ercol dining set

Lot 1623: A 1950/60s ERCOL elm and beech dining set
2 model 376 Latticed Windsor chairs and a square top, model 395, table with shelf under, table h 72cm, top 69cm sq. Table in good condition, chairs in good solid useable condition with multiple surface marks and one crack at back of seat from wood movement.
Estimate: £200 – £300

1950s JESSIE TAIT for Rosebank Furniture 'Toadstools' fabric

Lot 1631: JESSIE TAIT for Rosebank Furniture, a 1950s design ‘Toadstools’ unused fabric panel
In two pieces, overall panel size 124 x 90cm. Smallest piece, 51 x 52cm, is a cut out of the original panel. Good unused condition.
Estimate: £300 – £500

LUCIENNE DAY for Heals 'High Noon' fabric

Lot 1632: LUCIENNE DAY for Heals, a ‘High Noon’ curtain panel
Marked on selvedge, 200 x 112cm
Estimate: £100 – £150

MARCO ZANINI for Bitossi post-modern coffee set

Lot 1633: MARCO ZANINI for Bitossi, a Post-Modern coffee set
Maker’s labels to bottom on coffee pot and sugar bowl. All pieces have crazing, several chips to lid of coffee pot and cups. No cracks or restoration.
Estimate: £100 – £150

Bookmarks: Miller’s Mid-Century Modern

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'Mid-Century Modern' by Judith Miller surrounded by vintage Mid-century modern homewares including a West German fat lava vase, bright orange pedestal cigarette lighter, small Cathrineholm enamelware Lotus bowl and still life oil painting

In today’s Bookmarks post, we’re taking a peek at Miller’s Mid-Century Modern – living with mid-century modern design by Judith Miller.

title page of "Mid-Century Modern" by Judith Miller with a small Cathrineholm enamelware Lotus bowl

Well, a bit more of a peek, really, as we linger over some of the wonderful pieces on display!

interior view of the mid-century modern design Kauffman House sitting room

Mid-century modern is one of our favourite eras for interior design, illustration, textiles and product design…

Arne Jacobsen "Ant" and "Swan" chairs

…so as the pages turned, there was a soundtrack of many oohs and ahhs!

selection of vintage Mid-Century Modern glassware including a kingfisher blue "Drunken Bricklayer" vase designed for Whitefriars by Geoffrey Baxter

Judith Miller is most famous for her all-encompassing antiques & collectables guides which are published annually.

collection of colourful West German "Fat Lava" pottery pots and vases

In recent years, they’ve included an ever-increasing number of 20th century pieces in response to interest & demand.

collection of GPlan furniture including a nest of pebble tables and "Butterfly" chairs designed by Lucian Ercolani

This book concentrates solely on mid-century modern – 1950s to the 1970s being the period generally accepted.

collection of vintage mid-century modern glass vases

A wonderful introductory chapter covers its evolution and influential designers.

collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs including examples designed by Charles and Ray Eames and Carlo di Carli

The movement perfectly encapsulated a new mood of optimism after the war years with revolutionary designs, materials & techniques.

collection of vintage mid-century modern pop art chairs including examples designed by Egon Eiermann and Günter Beltzig

The fresh ideas, and indeed disposable income, of a whole new generation began to soar.

vintage mid-century modern chair designed by Eero Saarinen and folding cube radio designed by Richard Sapper

There are examples of houses & interiors that encapsulate the era – less cluttered and designed for modern living.

vintage mid-century modern George Nelson "Spike" wall clock, Tommi Parzinger-designed sideboard and mahogany credenza and aluminium armchair designed by Harvey Probber

A broad array of objects is included, with chapters given over to furniture, lighting, glass, ceramics, metalware & textiles.

collection of vintage mid-century modern glass vases produced by Riihimaki of Finland

In addition, an extensive section covers the people responsible for these wonderful & iconic designs.

collection of vintage mid-century modern fabric

There are about 200 familiar & not so familiar names who are given a short, individual write up.

Mid-Century Modern text

We’ll just scratch the surface by mentioning Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton, Eero Saarinen, Alvar Aalto, Robert Welch, Stig Lindberg, Lucienne Day, Per Lutken, Charles & Ray Eames.

view of a sitting room with black Barcelona chairs and sofas

The book is packed with quality, full colour photographic references throughout…

vintage "Valentine" typewriter designed by Ettore Sottsass, Peter and Alison Smithson chair and Ronald Stennett-Wilson green glass candlestick

…and as with all Miller’s guides – estimated values to accompany each item image.

vintage mid-century modern Marcel Breuer reclining chair and Holmegaard "Gulvase" designed by Otto Brauer

There’s also a useful directory included of international dealers and their contact details – broken down into categories such as ceramics, glass, furniture, lighting etc.

collection of American-designed vintage mid-century modern furniture

As well as auctions & fairs and museums if you fancy going to see or sometimes handle wares in the flesh.

vintage mid-century modern posters by Saul Bass and Herbert Bayer

The book is well researched and accessible – a perfect coffee table browser or excellent source book for your library.

collection of vintage Scandinavian mid-century modern ceramic pots, vases and plaques

Mid-Century Modern – living with mid-century modern design is available from the publishers Octopus, Amazon and AbeBooks.

collection of vintage Scandinavian mid-century modern ceramics designed by Stig Lindberg

[Many thanks to Octopus for the review copy]

Midcentury Mag

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image of the front cover of the 1st edition of Midcentury Magazine pictured with a vintage Cathrineholm kettle and vintage harlequin china cup & saucer all on a piece of 1950s monochrome Crabtree fabric with milky way pattern

We have a regular book review feature on our blog, but today we’re looking at a magazine.

image of the 'Get the Look' feature in the 1st edition of Midcentury Magazine

The biannual publication of Midcentury has recently been launched, so it’s especially nice to be able to cast our eye over edition number one.

image of Peggy Olsen in the Mad Men feature in the 1st edition of Midcentury Magazine

It’s a subject close to our hearts too – namely Mid-Century Modernism.

image of Lucienne Day Olive Calyx pattern and Robin Day armchair from the Pallant House Gallery exhibition review in the 1st edition of Midcentury Magazine

We’ve been reading our copy over the weekend and have been thoroughly enjoying it.

image of the 'image from the 'Directory' section in the 1st edition of Midcentury Magazine

image of the 'image from the 'Directory' section in the 1st edition of Midcentury Magazine image of the 'image from the 'Directory' section in the 1st edition of Midcentury Magazine

Articles in this edition include an in-depth look at the ever-expanding Midcentury Modern Show and an interview with the founders & organisers, Petra Curtis & Lucy Ryder Richardson.

image of the 'image from the 'Dealers' section in the 1st edition of Midcentury Magazine

The Festival of Britain features prominently – both details of the original spectacular exhibition and current events to mark this, its 60th anniversary.

image of the 'image from the 'Marriage Made in Heaven' feature in the 1st edition of Midcentury Magazine

There’s a look at the hit TV show, Mad Men and its influence on the current Mid Century Modern renaissance.

image of the 'image of visitors to the MidMod Show in the 1st edition of Midcentury Magazine

Regular features are set to include the Buyer’s Guide to a design classic (the Eames rocker); Collector’s Perspective (the sculptures of Brian Willsher), Designer’s Eye (fashion designer, Margaret Howell‘s choice of 3 fave MCM pieces)’ Curator’s Choice which highlights a current exhibition (Robin & Lucienne Day at Pallant House Gallery, Chichester) and Mid Century Home, (in this edition, a tour of Cathy Spooner & Peter Walls’ house in Crystal Palace, London).

image of the 'image from the 'Festival of Britain' feature in the 1st edition of Midcentury Magazine

There’s an excellent directory of specialist MCM stockists, designers & dealers.

image of the 'image of a bright yellow Eames rocking chair in the 1st edition of Midcentury Magazine

Format wise, it’s between A4 and A5 – and there are 66 pages in all. A subscription costs £6.95 per year for two issues, £10.95 in Europe and £13.95 to the rest of the world. The price includes postage.

image of close up of the front cover of the 1st edition of Midcentury Magazine

Hopefully this is the start of something great – so get your hands on a copy, have a browse and let them know what you think.

Bookmarks: V & A Pattern

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V & A Fifties and Pop Patterns books

One little blog post about two little books.

covers of V & A Fifties and Pop Patterns books covers of V & A Fifties and Pop Patterns books

Today’s Bookmarks post features V & A The Fifties and Pop Patterns

page from V & A Fifties Pattern book by Sue Pritchard

With less than a hundred pages each, they’re small – but perfectly formed.

vintage 1950s pattern illustration in blue with a Venetian scene

Each book has an introductory overview of its subject – prominent designers, artistic and social influences etc.

vintage Calyx pattern designed by Lucienne Day in the 1950s

Written by Sue Pritchard in The Fifties and by Oriole Cullen in Pop Patterns.

Malaga pattern wallpaper sample produced by Palladio Wallpapers in 1955

Concise & informed – they’re perfectly scaled to match the books.

vintage patterns designed by Marion Mahler for David Whitehead Ltd in the 1950s

The introductions are followed by plenty of illustrated examples…

Malaga pattern wallpaper sample produced by Palladio Wallpapers in 1955

…all taken from the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Collections.

vintage Springboard pattern designed by Lucienne Day in 1954

Each book manages to pack in about 60 of them!

page from V & A Pop Patterns book by Oriole Cullen

These fantastic designs were used in textiles, wallpapers and home furnishings.

vintage numbers furnishing fabrics designed by Annikki & Ilmari Tapiovaara in the 1960s

Some of these patterns have actually been re-released of late – Calyx by Lucienne Day, for example, and Marian Mahler’s Mobiles.

vintage Chuck Berry and Marilyn patterns designed by Christopher Snow in the 1960s

For others, you’ll have to hunt down vintage examples – not an easy task!

vintage Wacky Packages patterned fabric designed for VIP Fabrics Inc in the 1960s

The books also provide lists of further reading if your appetites have been whetted.

vintage T-shirt prints designed by Marshall Lester for Scott Lester Ltd in the 1960s

Each book comes with an accompanying disc of 70 high resolution digital images of vintage patterns that you can use (with permission if they are to be used commercially).

Both books are available from Amazon:

And the whole series can be found on the Hive website.

page from V & A Pop Patterns book by Oriole Cullen showing CD containing high resolution pattern images

They’re a good, inexpensive introduction to the subject… highly recommended!

[Many thanks to V & A Publishing for supplying these review copies]