NEW YORK.- International fine arts auctioneers Bonhams will celebrate 20th Century Design in 2007 including sales of decorative arts and furniture comprising examples spanning a century of design and featuring works of Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Modern design. Its June 4 auction at Bonhams New York has been scheduled featuring pieces designed by several important designers and artisans. Expected to attract serious interest is a collection of works by George Nakashima from the estates of Randall and Harriet Fawcett.

Japanese-American woodworker George Nakashima was trained as an architect at the University of Washington and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His furniture-making ventures began in the early 1940s, garnered international acclaim, and continued until his death in 1990. Over the decades, Nakashima's distinct style earned him a global reputation for harmony, design and craftsmanship - receiving several important public and private commissions throughout his career.

Randall Fawcett began a correspondence with the craftsman after viewing the furnishings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Reading Room, created by Nakashima in 1987. Fawcett admired the simplicity of Nakashima's designs and felt they would be harmonious with the architecture of his 1955 Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian farmhouse that had been built on his working farm in Los Banos, California.

In correspondence (to be offered with the property), George Nakashima suggested that Mr. Fawcett would want to keep the triangular motif found throughout the house. He designed a coffee table using what he called a "fine and rich Claro walnut burl which I have acquired that I think would be in the rhythm of your room."

Bonhams is pleased to offer the collection consisting of the coffee table with bark edges, rosewood butterflies and Arlyn base (est. $20,000/30,000), an American walnut bookmatch dining table with freeform edge on Minguren II base (est. $20,000/30,000), ten walnut Conoid chairs (est. $40,000/60,000) and three Conoid cushion chairs (est. $7,000/10,000 each).

The June sale will open for preview in New York City on June 1-3, 2007. The illustrated catalog will be online for review and purchase in the weeks preceding the sale at www.bonhams.com/us.