DALLAS, TX.- This month, Heritage presents a two-day Design event — on Oct. 22 its Early 20th Century Design Auction and on Oct. 23 its Modern Design Auction — as it celebrates its reconfigured Design department under Samantha Robinson, who has been promoted to Vice President of Design. Robinson, based in Heritage’s Chicago location, now oversees Heritage’s overall strategy and its high-level dealmaking for the categories under the Design umbrella, including Design in all media from the turn of the century to the present. Robinson first joined Heritage in 2018, was named Consignment Director in 2020, and Director of Decorative Arts & Design in 2023. Robinson's expertise in 20th & 21st century Design has elevated and solidified Heritage's relationship with collectors of Tiffany Studios, Art & Studio Glass, Ceramics, and collectible Modern & Contemporary Design.

"Samantha’s well-deserved promotion marks several years of tremendous growth for us," says Ed Beardsley, Heritage’s Vice President and Managing Director of Fine & Decorative Arts. "Her deep knowledge, extensive experience and continued innovation greatly contribute to our company’s evolution and ability to meet the needs of the marketplace. We all look forward to the contributions in her new role as she leads her team."

"It’s an incredible honor to step into this role at such a dynamic moment for the Design category," says Robinson. "I’m proud to lead this talented team and to grow our presence in both established and emerging areas of the market, serving collectors at all levels and stages. This fall’s auctions reflect the full strength and breadth of what we offer — from the timeless elegance of Tiffany Studios to the bold innovation of George Nakashima, Claude Lalanne and Stephen Powell."

Heritage’s Design department presents two distinct auction series — Early 20th Century Design and Modern Design — two to three times a year, and this month sees both eras represented in the auction house’s Signature auctions on Oct. 22 and 23. Heritage Senior Vice President Nicholas Dawes continues to lead the Early 20th Century Design category with its focus on Tiffany Studios, Art Glass, Art Pottery, and design, sculpture and works on paper from the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements. Heritage Director Michael Hartman continues to lead Heritage’s Modern Design category with its focus on furniture and decorative arts from the second half of the 20th century through the present.

In additional news from Heritage’s Design department: Christianne Teague — who earned an M.A. in Decorative Arts, Design History and Material Culture from Bard Graduate Center where she was awarded the prestigious Lee B. Anderson Memorial Foundation Fellowship — has been named Consignment Director of Design & Decorative Arts in Heritage’s Beverly Hills office. She first joined Heritage in 2021. "I’m beyond thrilled to take the next step in my career with Heritage," says Teague. "I look forward to helping our department expand and solidify our Design presence on the West Coast; particularly in Art Nouveau and Art Deco design, Studio glass and ceramics, and artist jewelry."

Heritage’s Oct. 22 Early 20th Century Design Signature® Auction offers a stellar lineup of Tiffany Studios lamps, all fresh to market from private collections, as well as the Collection of Rex Rush and excellent examples of Art Nouveau and Art Deco sculpture.

This early Peony table lamp from Tiffany Studios, circa 1905, leads the charge with its shade in delicate greens and pinks and its matched sculpted bronze base; it joins, at the top of the auction, other gems from the Tiffany Studios, including a Peacock table lamp, circa 1910, and a Poppy table lamp, circa 1910.

An esteemed collection shapes this auction. Both Robinson and Dawes had the pleasure of getting to know collector Rex Rush during the course of his collecting, with his primary focus on French Art Glass.

"He was a knowledgeable and passionate collector with exquisite taste and exacting standards related to condition. Rex recently passed away and we are honored to work with his family to bring his treasured collection to market," says Dawes. More than 60 pieces from Mr. Rush’s collection are a highlight of the Oct. 22 auction, including this exquisite René Lalique Antilopes vase, circa 1925 — a moody spherical vase with molded leaping antelopes — and a René Lalique Ormeaux vase, circa 1926, of cased jade green glass.

Among the Art Deco and Art Nouveau sculpture highlights is a charming, elongated Belly Dancer in cold-painted bronze by Demetre Chiparus. The acclaimed Romanian sculptor, who lived in Paris and based many of his works on ballet and theater, created it in 1925.

Heritage’s October 23 Modern Design Signature® Auction boasts strong offerings in Studio Glass by luminaries such as Lino Tagliapietra and Stephen Powell, as well as signature works by Evelyn Ackerman, Pedro Friedeberg, Albert Paley, Jun Kaneko and George Nakashima.

"Stephen Powell’s work is remarkable for its ambitious scale, technical mastery and fearless use of color," says Robinson. "His use of the murrini technique — fusing patterned glass pieces into the surface of a sculpture — produced a dazzling effect, as if his works were alive with movement and light."

Ten works by Powell are in the auction, including an untitled work in fused and blown murrine glass that glows with swirls of purple and green across its curved shape, and a playful work titled Lemon Lurching Mania, from 2005, that proves the artist’s mastery of movement and form and complements his lyrical and anthropomorphic Lurid Pulsing Meander. These make excellent counterpoints to Lino Tagliapietra’s Dinosaur, an Italian wonder from 2001 in blown and wheel-carved glass.

Last year Heritage broke the auction record for a work by Evelyn Ackerman, and this auction offers another excellent work by the artist: Pennants Mosaic, Model 605-5C, from 1958. It’s joined on Oct. 23 by the most iconic design, hands down (or palms up), by Pedro Friedeberg, and, on the topic of figural furniture design, a Dragon’s Back table by Albert Paley. Mid-Century favorite George Nakashima is well-represented in this auction with nine works, including his crisp and elegant Double Sliding Door Cabinet designed in 1964 in American black walnut.

"This event is a testament to the energy and sophistication of today’s Modern Design collectors," says Michael Hartman, Director of Modern Design. "The excitement we’ve seen around pieces by Nakashima, Tagliapietra and Powell speaks volumes about where this market is headed. We’re thrilled to be setting the pace for what’s next."