Eye for design: decorate your home with an eyecatching piece at auction

14 October 2024 Auctions are a great place to buy furnishings with a distinctive design or eyecatching look.

This Danish rosewood sideboard from the 1960s was designed by Johannes Andersen (1903-1991) for the German maker Hans Bech. With four central drawers, flanked by a pair of double doors opening to reveal an arrangement of shelves, it is estimated at £2000-3000. View the catalogue entry for this Johannes Andersen sideboard.

The upcoming Design sale at Sworders on October 22 for example features 388 lots including some stunning pieces of glass, ceramics, furniture, lighting and metalware, much of it by well known designers and makers.

With a broad range of items offered across a wide range of prices, including plenty of ‘affordable’ material, you’re bound to find something you like or that will provide the right ‘look’ for your home.

Here is a selection of five lots that caught our eye to give you a flavour of what’s on offer.

1. Sugar bowl

This bronze sugar bowl from c.1870 is thought to have been designed by Dr Christopher Dresser (1834-1904) and manufactured by Elkington & Co. Of conical form, decorated with cast foliate anthemion bands, raised on applied gilt tripod feet, it shares some similarities with the conical bowl produced for Elkington & Co illustrated on the front cover of Widar Halén's book Christopher Dresser (Phaidon, 1990). It is estimated at £1500-2000 at Sworders. View the catalogue entry for this bronze sugar bowl.

2. Gallé glass vase

This Émile Gallé (1846-1904) cameo glass vase from the early 20th century is estimated at £500-700 at the Sworders sale. With the 'Gallé' signature, the vase is of compressed globe and shaft form, and is cased and cut with flowers. View the catalogue entry for this Émile Gallé vase.

3. Eames lounge chair

This lounge chair and footstool by American designers Charles Eames (1907-78) and Ray Eames (1912-88) was originally designed in 1958 for Herman Miller. With the graphite upholstery on an aluminium frame, the chair is stamped with the Herman Miller logo. The items are offered together at Sworders with an estimate of £600-800. View the catalogue entry for this Eames lounge chair and footstool.

4. French wall lights

This pair of 'Antinea' wall lights by French designer Jean-François Crochet (b.1949) each have three interlaced wrought-iron rods below a Murano glass shade. Designed for luxury lighting firm Terzani, they each stand 2ft 4in (71.5cm) high. The pair is estimated at £500-700. View the catalogue entry for these 'Antinea' wall lights.