20th Century Design

The 20th Century Design Department offers important works of Decorative Arts and Design ranging from the Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, to works from the post-war years and on through Contemporary Design.

Our international Design auctions include key works by 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. Accompanied by robust exhibitions and a wealth of promotional content, our flagship Design seasons offer exceptional visibility when both our global Design salesforce and the world’s leading collectors converge.

Our international team includes highly experienced specialists and cataloguers in New York, Paris, and Milan who work closely with colleagues in Sotheby's worldwide locations to source the best examples from each period in this category.

Regular auctions take place in Paris in May and November, and in New York in March, June and December. Sotheby’s 20th Century Design also executes landmark Single-Owner collections to the highest caliber, notably “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 its two primary locations for 20th Century Design in New York and Paris, Sotheby’s is expanding its reach to Milan.

In advance of our forthcoming sales, we would be delighted to provide you with a free and confidential valuation. Feel free to contact the department for any questions and assistance.