6 Noteworthy Sales at Wrights ‘Important Design’ Auction

This morning Wright, a Chicago-based auction house specializing in modern and contemporary art and design, presented Important Design, an auction offering the works of some of the most influential designers, artists and architects of the 20th century — Frank Gehry, Isamu Noguchi and Leo Amino among them.

The auction included a veritable trove of works by Amino, all from the collection of Emanuel and Linda Wright, who owned some 50 pieces by the artist, including three pieces by Amino that they donated to the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Surprisingly, some works by big names in design including Noguchi, Ron Arad, Gio Ponti, and Jean Royère failed to find buyers.

Below, we take a look at 6 interesting pieces that sold at the Important Design auction.

Leo Amino, Untitled. Photo: Wright

1. Leo Amino

The 1954 work, made of hand-carved mahogany and steel wire had a high estimate of $50,000 and sold for a whopping $197,000.

Gerrit Rietveld, Zig-Zag Chair Photo: Wright

2. Gerrit Rietveld

The lacquered elm chair from the celebrated designer and architect sold above its $7,000 estimate, going for $10,625.

Paul Evans, Sculpted Bronze cabinet, model PE-41 Photo: Wright

3. Paul Evans

The bronze cabinet from the American designer sold for $32, 500, $12,500 above the high estimate.

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Pierre Jeanneret, pair of lounge chairs Photo: Wright

4. Pierre Jeanneret

The teak and cane lounge chairs from the Swiss-born designer sold for $16,250.

Ken Price, set of five erotic cups Photo: Wright

5. Ken Price

A set of cups by the renowned sculptor with erotic motifs sold for $23,750, above its $15,000 high estimate.

A collection of 37 issues of Visionaire Photo: Wright

6. A Trove of Editions of Visionaire

This collection of 37 issues of the limited edition art and fashion publication Visionaire, including 20 COMME DES GARÇONS (a 1997 issue with Rei Kawakubo as the magazine’s first guest-editor) sold for $8,750.