Bonhams & Butterfields is pleased to announce the spring auction of 20th Century Decorative Arts on April 20, 2010.  The 430 lot sale will offer a diverse group of high quality works spanning the evolution of 20th century design by well-known figures of the period.  The sale will feature strong examples of Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern and works by Contemporary Studio artists.  Auction highlights will also include property from the Estate of renowned Los Angeles philanthropist, Nancy M. Daly.  

Leading the Arts & Crafts offerings is a strong selection of property from the Estate of Los Angeles philanthropist Nancy M. Daly.  Included within the offering are pieces of Fairyland Lustre, silver and works by Tiffany Studios as well as one of the largest collections of the first truly American art pottery, Rookwood, to be featured at auction in recent years. 

Highlights from the Estate include a full range of Rookwood's artistic output.  From their important early years under the direction of founder and artist Maria Longworth Nichols, through the modern period, this important collection includes a robust selection of trademark glazes created by the firm, such as Dull Finish, Standard, Aerial blue, Sea Green, "Mat," Iris, Tiger's Eye and translucent Vellum.  Award-winning designs by noted decorators Arthur Conant, William P. McDonald, Carl Schmidt, Kataro Shirayamadani and Albert Valentien, are also present within the offering. 

Rookwood highlights from the Estate of Nancy M. Daly include a large award-winning Tiger's Eye Glaze Swimming Fish Vase, decorated by Albert Valentien in stunning dark red tones (est. $30,000-50,000); an important Vellum Glaze Peacock by noted Japanese artist Kataro Shirayamadani famous for his use of the romantic essence in pottery (est. $8,000-12,000); an unusual Sea Green Glaze Fish and Seagull Vase by William P. McDonald exhibited in the famed Paris 1900 exhibition and depicted in the publication Rookwood Pottery: The Glorious Gamble (est. $18,000-25,000); a monumental Iris Glaze Orchid Vase by decorator Carl Schmidt (est. $18,000-25,000); an oversize Iris Glaze Storks in Flight Vase by Albert Valentien, reputedly from Art Nouveau dealer S. Bing, Paris, France (est. $15,000-20,000) and an important Jewel Glazed porcelain Oriental Landscape Vase by decorator Arthur Conant (est. $12,000-18,000).

"The selection of Rookwood pottery, from the Estate of Nancy M. Daly, boasts several of the finest examples by the firm's most sought after artists.  Due to the impressive size of the individual pieces and the complex variation in glaze types, the pottery is among the most important of its type to be featured at public auction in recent years.  Bonhams & Butterfields is pleased to include property from Mrs. Daly's estate in the April sale," said Angela Past, Specialist, 20th Century Decorative Arts. 

Additional furniture and decorative arts on offer from the Estate of Nancy M. Daly will include a highly sought after Tiffany Studios Favrile Glass and Bronze Lotus Lamp (est. $40,000-60,000); and a Douglas Donaldson Silver and carnelian Bowl (est. $10,000-

15,000) as well as a selection of rare to market Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre highlighted by a stunning covered vase titled Ghostly Woods in Moonlight (est. $9,000-12,000). 

According to Jason Stein, 20th Century Decorative Arts Specialist:  "The market for Arts & Crafts, such as property from the Estate of Nancy M. Daly, has experienced resurgence in interest among the younger generation of collectors.  Over the past several years, Bonhams & Butterfields has seen renewed interest in works from the early century."

The sale will also feature a robust group of studio works of art, glass and ceramic pieces by renowned artists Dale Chihuly, Paul Evans, Jack Rogers Hopkins, Fujita Kyohei, Glen Lukens, George Nakashima, Beatrice Wood and for the first time at public auction, Arthur (Tripp) Espenet Carpenter III, son of Arthur Espenet Carpenter. Notable highlights include a sculpted chair, 1971, by Jack Rogers Hopkins (est. $25,000-35,000); an important "brutalist" sculpted steel credenza by Paul Evans (est. $18,000-25,000); a monumental glazed ceramic bowl by Glen Lukens (est. $9,000-12,000) and A Kazaribako (Dream Box), a mold blown glass box enameled with metal foil by Fujita Kyohei (est. $7,000-10,000); New Moon Jewelry Box, 2007, by Arthur (Tripp) Espenet Carpenter III (est. $1,500-2,000) as well as a walnut settee by (est. $8,000-12,000) and a rare to market burled walnut king-size headboard (est. $5,000-7,000), both by George Nakashima. 

Auction highlights will also include exquisite pieces of American, Scandinavian, Italian and Dutch modern design classics as well as a curated selection of neon by Lisa Schulte.  Among the featured works are two chrome and leather day beds, one in red leather and the other black, designed by Mies van der Rohe (est. $4,000-6,000 each); a set of six Pyramid Stacking side chairs, 1966, by Wim Rietveld (est. $1,500-2,000); a six piece Alpaca coffee service, Rome, circa 1964, by Gio Ponti from the Hotel Parco dei Principi (est. $7,000-9,000); and a strong cohesive section of design studies for the S1 Locomotive, NASA Saturn 5 Space Station, Apollo, Skylab, related space habitability diagrams, urban vehicles and transportation sketches by Raymond Lowey (estimate range from $1,200-4,000) as well as a blue 1975 Avanti II Coupe.  This will be the first time a motor vehicle has been offered during a 20th Century Decorative Art auction as an example of design. 

A selection of pieces related to the 1982 science fiction classic, Blade Runner, will also be featured during the auction.  Inspired by the April 15, 2010 panel discussion titled Blade Runner: Designing the Future, the lots, which will be sold to benefit the Los Angeles Conservancy, will include a Blade Runner promotional light up Umbrella with illuminated shaft (est. $300-500) and signed promotional poster from the Blade Runner "Final Cut" release, 2007 ($100-200) from The Personal Collection of Producer Michael Deeley; a personalized signed copy of Mr. Deeley's autobiography Blade Runners, Deer Hunters, and Blowing the Bloody Doors Off: My Life in Cult Movies, 2009 ($50-100) and a signed copy of Oblagon: Concepts of Syd Mead, 1985, which contains 17 pages of Mead's art created for Blade Runner from the designer's personal library ($100-200).

Blade Runner: Designing the Future," will be held on April 15, 2010.  Esteemed panelists will include the Oscar®-winning Producer of Blade Runner, Michael Deeley (The Italian Job, The Man Who Fell to Earth, The Deer Hunter) and legendary conceptual and industrial designer, Syd Mead (Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Tron, Aliens, 2010) who contributed key set and vehicle designs for the film.  Frances Anderton, Host of "DnA" (Design and Architecture) on National Public Radio (KCRW, Los Angeles) and Producer of "To the Point/Which Way LA" will serve as moderator for the panel.  Ridley Scott, Oscar®-winning Director of Blade Runner and the upcoming Robin Hood (2010), has expressed interest in attending the evening's program, schedule permitting. 

Tickets for "Blade Runner: Designing the Future" are available on a "first come, first served" basis and are dependent on securing a reserved ticket, with a suggested $25.00 contribution to the Los Angeles Conservancy.  Please note that seating is limited.  For event and ticket inquiries, please contact Katie Nartonis at (323) 436-5445 or katie.nartonis@bonhams.com <mailto:katie.nartonis@bonhams.com>. 

Panel Discussion: April 15, 7:30pm Los Angeles

Auction Preview: April 16-18, 12pm-5pm, Los Angeles

Auction: April 20, 10am, Los Angeles

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Press Contact:  Jannelle Grigsby, 310.567.7990, jannelle.grigsby@bonhams.com <mailto:jannelle.grigsby@bonhams.com>