Auction: 11:00 AM Central Time,Friday, May 1

Our Specialists picked their favorite items from our upcoming May 1 Modern Design Signature® Auction.
| Samantha's Picks Samantha Robinson | Vice President, Design, Chicago
Lino Tagliapietra Stromboli, 2019
"Nothing is flexible like glass; nothing has the beauty of glass. The combination of air, fire, and water. Even gold has nothing to compare to glass. It is absolutely the most expressive material on the planet." These are the words of Lino Tagliapietra, widely regarded as one of the greatest living glass artists due to his unmatched technical skill and formal experimentation. Our upcoming auction boasts 10 works by Tagliapietra, including this jaw-dropping monumental Stromboli. In this series, pared down vessel forms bring the maestro's technical prowess into clear focus. Close examination reveals dynamic interplay between the murrines and the transparent spaces within and around them, highlighting the exterior and interior surfaces.
Frank Lloyd Wright, Twin Bed Designed for the Oak Park Home and Studio, circa 1910
One of a pair, this maple and birch wood twin bed resided in the north bedroom of Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio in Oak Park, Illinois, between 1911 and 1925. The bed's rectilinear structure and unadorned surfaces echo the geometric clarity of his exterior designs, exemplifying his commitment to environments in which form and function are seamlessly aligned. While this example has been lovingly cared for by a private Oak Park collector for over 25 years, its mate is held in the Collection of the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust, underscoring the significance of this surviving example. This is a rare opportunity to acquire an important piece of architecture and design history.
Paul Lobel Important and Rare Cocktail Shaker, circa 1935
Paul Lobel's wicker-wrapped cocktail shaker is a striking example of how Machine Age design balanced industrial precision with human warmth. Its underlying metal body embodies the sleek, functional aesthetic central to Machine Age ideals, while the wicker introduces a tactile, organic contrast that softens the object's mechanical rigor. This interplay between machine-made structure and artisanal surface treatment elevates the shaker beyond mere utility, transforming it into a sophisticated design object. In 1934, a prototype of the present design with Bakelite elements appeared in the Contemporary American Industrial Art exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. Shortly thereafter, this version appeared in the Wilcox salesman catalogue with a retail price of $12, but it was discontinued by 1936. As a result, few examples were produced and even fewer still survive.
| Christianne's Picks Christianne Teague | Consignment Director, Design & Decorative Arts, Beverly Hills
Stephen Powell Pulsing Manic Digger from the Whackos Series, 2005
Stephen Powell was an absolute master of color and form, and the influence of his early painting days shows through in his glass. His works combine the saturated colorfields of Rothko with the physicality and expressive lines of Pollock, both of whom he named as key influences. This particular piece immediately struck me; the rich cornflower blue pairs unexpectedly but harmoniously with the deep rust orange, and the looping, asymmetrical form suggests, to my eye, the playful silhouette of an elephant. It's a fitting detail, as Powell often infused his work with a sense of humor.
Evelyn Ackerman Campesina Tapestry, 1969
We are fortunate to present a large and varied selection of works by Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman this season. The Campesina tapestry was one of their most beloved designs at the time of production and remains so today, having been featured in key publications and exhibitions, including Material Curiosity at the Craft Contemporary (on view through May 10). It would be difficult to find a better example of this work than this particular one - the colors remain gorgeously saturated, and I love the slightly darker blue band in the lower right corner, the result of thread from a different dye batch. It's poignant evidence of the thoughtful handmade nature of the work.
| Elinor's Pick Elinor Chalmers | Cataloguer, Decorative Arts, Dallas
Piero Fornasetti Set of Thirteen Fleming Joffe Improbable Recipe Plates, circa 1960
Piero Fornasetti's Improbable Recipe plates offer a clever fusion of artistry and humor, with each design illustrating a fantastical culinary invention. Produced for Fleming Joffe as an exclusive client series, complete sets like this are seldom found. A quintessential example of Fornasetti's playful, surreal vision. The plates demonstrate his ability to balance whimsy with formal precision, a defining characteristic of his work.
| Ben's Pick Ben Windsor | Cataloguer, Decorative Arts, Dallas
Tatsuzō Shimaoka Triangular Vase
What draws me to this work is the way the surface feels fluid, with warm amber tones broken by darker glaze that runs and pools, while the lighter passages catch and reflect light, shifting as the piece is viewed. While Shimaoka is best known for his rope-impressed Jōmon zogan decoration, this example offers a more immediate, visceral appeal, something that truly resonates when seen in person.
Browse and bid on these and other exceptional pieces in our May 1 Modern Design Signature® Auction. Sincerely,
|  | Samantha Robinson Vice President, Design, Chicago SamanthaR@HA.com (312) 260-7233
|  | Christianne Teague Consignment Director, Design & Decorative Arts, Beverly Hills ChristianneT@HA.com (214) 409-1932
|  | Elinor Chalmers Cataloguer, Decorative Arts, Dallas ElinorC@HA.com (214) 409-1276
|  | Ben Windsor Cataloguer, Decorative Arts, Dallas BenW@HA.com (214) 409-1142