DALLAS, TX.- Heritage events held one week apart brought in nearly $2 million and proved the enduring appeal of early- and mid-20th century design by American artists and designers (as well as works by their international peers) and continued the super-charged trend for enhancing our homes. Collector favorites Tiffany Studios, Harry Bertoia and George Nakashima topped the sales.

The first of three Pursuit of Beauty: Art Nouveau, Art Deco & Art Glass auctions slated for 2023 took place on Thursday, January 26 and achieved total sales of $1,104,171 against a pre-auction estimate of $584,200. An astonishing 99% of the 259 lots offered sold, demonstrating strong bidder participation and competition across all categories.

The designs of the glass studio founded by Louis Comfort Tiffany during the Gilded Age continue to beguile collectors: A Tiffany Studios arrowroot lamp with rare cattail base, which flew past its $80,000-$120,000 pre-auction estimate and realized $212,500, clinched the top lot. Another high-performing Tiffany Studios offering, a leaded glass and patinated bronze Peony table lamp, circa 1905, went for $87,500. Tiffany of course didn’t limit itself to lamp design: A set of 63 Tiffany Studios favrile glass tiles, circa 1910, sold for $50,000.

And from across the pond: French glass by Lalique performed well with this clear and frosted glass Cactus center table designed by Marc Lalique (post-1945) selling for $30,000, and this rare R. Lalique clear and frosted glass Fougères perfume bottle with green patina and gold foil, circa 1912, went for $22,500. Another charming French winner was this instantly recognizable lithograph by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec titled Divan Japonais (1893), which sold for $18,750.

Another top performer at $23,750 includes this rare Steuben decorated brown Aurene glass Peacock Feather vase, circa 1910, with warm browns underlying iridescent-edged,cream-colored peacock feathers. The vase was among the first installment of an important collection of Frederick Carder-era Steuben from Waco, Texas, with the second installment to follow on May 25.

“The results of this auction affirm the strength of the current market for early 20th century design, and our ability to capitalize on it for the benefit of our consignors, reaching and engaging all prospective bidders worldwide,” says Samantha Robinson, Heritage's Consignment Director of Decorative Arts & Design. “Bidders competed fiercely for lots across all categories: Tiffany Studios, Steuben, French Cameo, Lalique, and more, indicating that 2023 is an opportune year to consign and sell at auction.”

Heritage’s February 2 Design Signature® Auction, was strong with 20th century American design and featured top lots by Harry Bertoia, George Nakashima, Frank Lloyd Wright, Paul Evans, John Mason and more, and took in $815,508.

A playful copper, bronze and brass Sonambient by Bertoia was the top lot at $60,000. American designer, architect and furniture maker George Nakashima, the father of the American craft movement, made a strong showing in this event: His Frenchman's Cove II dining tablefrom 1964, in walnut with three rosewood butterflies, sold for $38,750; his 1966 sliding door cabinet in walnut brought $37,500; and a group of six grass-seated chairs in walnut, co-authored by Mira Nakashima, sold for $22,500.

Influential American designer Paul Evans kept the mid-century sales going strong with his dramatic 'Deep Relief' credenza (from 1967, in brushed polychrome steel, slate, chromed nickel and wood) selling for $27,500.

American conceptual ceramic artist John Mason was represented in this event with a piece that sold for more than twice its estimate: Folded Cross Dark Grey (2014) brought $23,750. Another lot that went for more than twice its estimate was Frank Lloyd Wright’s stunning blueprints for the Museum for the Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation – his famed and infamous spiral – (1952, diazotype on paper), which sold for $11,875.

French designer Maurice Calka’s ever-groovy 1970 Boomerang Desktopped its estimate at $23,750, and Australia’s Marc Newson fabricated his Carrara marble
Extruded Chair 'W' in 2007; it sold for $21,250.

“We are very pleased to have offered great works by George Nakashima and Harry Bertoia, among many other important designers, which so many of our clients found compelling,” says Brent Lewis, Heritage's Director of Design.“We look forward to our coming Design auctions this spring.”

Heritage is now seeking consignments of early 20th century glass, ceramics, works on paper and more for its May 25 Pursuit of Beauty: Art Nouveau, Art Deco & Art Glass Auction and is also seeking Modern & Contemporary design in all media for its April 28 Design Auction. Please contact Heritage to discuss your collection.