20th Century Design

S otheby’s 20th Century Design Department presents exceptional works spanning the Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco movements through the post‑war era and Contemporary Design. Our auctions showcase important pieces by leading designers and makers including Claude and François‑Xavier Lalanne, Alberto and Diego Giacometti, Émile‑Jacques Ruhlmann, Jean Royère, Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, Tiffany Studios, Frank Lloyd Wright, and George Nakashima, among many others. Each season is supported by curated exhibitions and extensive global marketing, offering outstanding visibility to collectors and consignors in 2026.

Our international team—based in New York, Paris, and Milan—works closely with colleagues across Sotheby’s global network to source the most significant and rare examples of 20th century Decorative Arts and Design. Their deep expertise, combined with long‑standing relationships with major collectors, estates, and institutions, ensures the highest level of scholarship, presentation, and market performance.

Regular Design auctions are held in Paris in May and November, and in New York in March, June, and December, complemented by landmark single‑owner sales that set new benchmarks for the category. Recent notable collections include A Vision: The Collection of Michelle Smith, PROUVÉ x BASQUIAT: Art and Design from the Collection of Peter M. Brant and Stephanie Seymour, Les Lalanne de Dorothée Lalanne, Hydra: The Karpidas Collection, and No Detail is Small: Art and Design from the Tamotsu Yagi Collection. Alongside our established New York and Paris salesrooms, Sotheby’s is expanding its Design presence in Milan to meet growing international demand.

As we prepare for upcoming sales, our specialists are pleased to offer complimentary and confidential valuations. We welcome inquiries from collectors, estates, and institutions seeking guidance, market insights, or assistance with consigning works of 20th Century Design.