New York, 26 May 2026 - Phillips has unveiled highlights from its New York Design Sale, which takes place on 12 June 2026 at 2:00 pm at 432 Park Avenue, with a public exhibition on view from 5 to 11 June. The auction is anchored by works from the private collections of influential women, among them Tina Hills, Agnete Laursen, Anna de Carmel, and Inger-Marie Tanier, a grouping that brings diverse perspectives to the collecting of 20th-century and contemporary design. Rare works by George Nakashima and William Morris, alongside rediscovered Scandinavian masterworks, lead the offering.
The sale draws much of its character from these distinguished provenances, each contributing a distinct point of view. Property from prominent women collectors threads through the catalog, spanning Danish Modern design, British studio pottery, and bold studio glass, and gives the auction both depth and coherence across genres.
Scandinavian masterworks
The collection of Agnete Laursen, which has remained in the same family for nearly a century, offers a focused exploration of Danish Modern design. It is led by rare works by Finn Juhl, including an architectonic wall-mounted cabinet previously known only through archival images, together with a unique bar cabinet and early seating, as well as Flemming Lassen's Den trætte mand (The Tired Man) armchair. Strengthening this group is Juhl's iconic Chieftain chair from the collection of Inger-Marie Tanier, which underscores the enduring significance of his vision, along with a recently rediscovered Paavo Tynell floor lamp. Juhl's Chieftain armchair, model no. FJ 49 A, dating to 1949, carries an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000, while the rare wall-mounted cabinet, circa 1944, is estimated at $60,000 to $80,000.
British studio pottery and studio glass
The Anna de Carmel Collection highlights British studio pottery, a category in which Phillips has long demonstrated strength, with refined works including a footed bowl by Lucie Rie and Hans Coper's Poppy Head pot, the latter, circa 1965, estimated at $15,000 to $20,000. A Life in Color: Property from the Estate of Tina Hills debuted in the April Editions & Works on Paper Auction, with works since featured across the Modern & Contemporary Art Sales and included in the forthcoming Jewels sale on 11 June. Within the Design sale, Hills' taste for bold, dynamic works is seen in vibrant studio glass by Dale Chihuly, including a Large Macchia, alongside William Morris' sculptural vessels such as Hanging Petroglyph and Canopic Jar: Sable Antelope, the latter, from 1996, estimated at $150,000 to $200,000.
American and French design
Additional highlights include a rare George Nakashima Conoid bench, exemplary for its striking size and the beautiful figuration of the wood. This is the only Conoid bench of this scale with a single arm to have come to market, making it an exciting opportunity for collectors of important Nakashima. The bench, with its single free-form arm and dating to 1961, is estimated at $120,000 to $180,000. Several rare sculptures by Harry Bertoia, including Rare (Untitled) Sonambient, are on offer from the Estate of Benjamin Mangel, a longtime gallerist and friend of Bertoia; the work, circa 1975, carries an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. The sale also features important French design, led by Jean Prouvé's Flavigny table, circa 1945, estimated at $80,000 to $120,000, and the Rodéo desk and chair by Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti, from 1990, estimated at $30,000 to $50,000.
Selected highlights
The sale arrives as Phillips marks its 230th anniversary in 2026, celebrating more than two centuries at the forefront of the global market for Modern & Contemporary Art, Design, and Luxury. Founded in 1796 by the charismatic auctioneer Harry Phillips, the house has, since its earliest days, offered a distinct and forward-looking approach to sales and collecting, delivering record-breaking results and landmark offerings while pioneering new modes of collecting. Today the company holds its auctions primarily in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong.
Estimates do not include the buyer's premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer's premium.
(Press Release)
