DALLAS, TX.- Heritage Auctions’ Spring Design events — the April 30 Early 20th Century Design Signature® Auction and the May 1 Modern Design Signature® Auction — realized a combined total of more than $2 million, marking a strong and confident reintroduction of the auction house’s newly relaunched Design department.

Leading the charge were two standout lots from the Modern Design sale: Lino Tagliapietra’s Dinosaur (2017), which achieved an auction record for the form at $60,000, and a striking Dale Chihuly chandelier (2001), which brought $106,250. Notably, both works were acquired by bidders entirely new to Heritage — a signal of the department’s expanding reach and the growing appeal of Design across collecting categories.

“The lead up to this season’s Design auctions can only be described as an energy surge,” says Samantha Robinson, Heritage’s Vice President of Design. “Our two auctions — Early 20th Century Design and Modern Design — generated tremendous buzz, attracting the attention of established and new Heritage bidders alike. Their enthusiastic participation and fierce competition resulted in strong hammer prices to the thrill of our consignors.”

Together, the two auctions offered a sweeping view of design across more than a century, with glass emerging as both a unifying medium and a driving force behind the sales’ success.

Early 20th Century Design: French Glass Leads

The April 30 Early 20th Century Design Signature® Auction realized $962,928 (including buyer’s premium), and the sale achieved a 100% sell-through rate, underscoring strong demand across categories.

French glass proved the undeniable centerpiece, with works by René Lalique claiming the top two positions. His Quatre Guirlandes de Roses Entrelacs Quatre Pieds Vase (circa 1921), executed in the coveted cire perdue technique, led the auction at $62,500. Joining it was the exquisite Papillons Coffret (circa 1914), which realized $40,000, its patina and naturalistic imagery resonating with bidders.

Additional highlights reinforced the strength of early 20th-century European design. A rare and monumental Gallé Lac de Côme vase (circa 1925) achieved $17,500, while a Zsolnay vase with a distinctive snail motif (circa 1900) brought $37,500, demonstrating continued collector appetite for masterworks in ceramic and glass.

Tiffany Studios, a perennial favorite among collectors, performed solidly. An early Apple Blossom table lamp (circa 1910) realized $30,000, and a Cypriote vase (circa 1897) in Favrile glass brought $13,750, reaffirming the enduring popularity of American Art Nouveau design.

Modern Design: Contemporary Glass Drives Category Growth

The May 1 Modern Design Signature® Auction realized $1,058,430 (including buyer’s premium), the category’s highest total at Heritage since 2022. The sale achieved a 99% sell-through rate by value.

Contemporary glass dominated the auction, with 26 lots accounting for 59% of the total value, or $629,612. At the forefront was an exceptional group of works by Lino Tagliapietra, all drawn from a single private collection. Seven of the 10 exceeded estimates, with the group achieving a combined hammer of $252,000 against a pre-auction estimate range of $156,000–$230,000.

The standout Dinosaur (2017) not only led the group but also set a new auction record for the form at $60,000. “We are thrilled to achieve the auction record for a Dinosaur, one of Lino Tagliapietra’s most celebrated bodies of work,” says Robinson. “The record-breaking result for this example is no surprise given its technical complexity and aesthetic merit, as well as our robust marketing efforts.”

Works by Dale Chihuly were equally compelling, led by 2001’s Chandelier, which realized $106,250. Strong results continued for artists Stephen Powell and Toots Zynsky, further underscoring the vitality of the contemporary glass market.

Beyond glass, the sale reflected strength across key areas of 20th-century design. George Nakashima’s Frenchmen’s Cove II dining table achieved $38,750, while a set of his six American black walnut chairs brought $23,750.

Heritage also continued its leadership in the market for Evelyn Ackerman, concurrent with its sponsorship of the Material Curiosity: Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman exhibition at Craft Contemporary in Los Angeles. A vibrant Hot Bird Mosaic (Model 201, designed 1957) realized $13,750, contributing to ongoing momentum for the artist’s work.

Additional highlights included Philip and Kelvin LaVerne’s Tao Game Table (circa 1960), which brought $17,500, and Norman Bel Geddes’ sleek Machine Age Manhattan Cocktail Set (circa 1935), which realized $15,000 — a reminder of the enduring appeal of early modern industrial design.

“The results of this season confirm not only the enduring if not growing appeal of Design of the 20th and 21st centuries, but also Heritage’s continued ascent within the marketplace in this category,” Robinson says. “Heritage is a destination for Design bidders and consignors, and we look forward to serving every collector wherever they may be on their journey.”