Auction: 11:00 AM Central Time, Thursday, October 23

Our Specialists picked their favorite items from our upcoming October 23 Modern Design Signature® Auction.
| Michael's Picks Michael Hartman | Director, Modern Design, New York
Vladimir Kagan Early Desk
This fine zebrawood and avodire desk (along with a matching pair of nightstands also offered in this sale) is among Vladimir Kagan's very earliest custom furniture designs, commissioned by the same New York family that has cared for it to the present. Just a few years out of high school and working out of a small shop on East 65th Street, the young Kagan brought together his distinctive interpretation of modernism and his father Illi's traditional furniture-making skills. Even at this early date, Kagan's characteristic marriage of finely grained wood with a sharp silhouette is on full display.
George Nakashima Double Sliding Door Cabinet
The Double Sliding Door Cabinet is one of George Nakashima's most popular and enduring designs. While these cabinets vary from commission to commission, the present lot includes all the elements one would want in an early example. Sliding grilled walnut doors, silhouetted by fresh pandanus cloth, conceal a bank of finely crafted drawers on the left side and two sturdy adjustable shelves on the right. Above, the beautifully dovetailed top features one of Nakashima's signature free edges in the front. A classic example of the form.
Pedro Friedeberg Pair of Hand Chairs
Designed in 1962 by the Mexican surrealist Pedro Friedeberg, the hand chair soon became both a sensation and its own aesthetic ecosystem. Beloved by generations of art collectors, designers, and curators, Friedeberg's chair has been rendered in everything from silver gilt to gold to the traditional stack-laminated mahogany seen here. A rare pair, acquired together directly from Friedeberg and in the same family ever since, these chairs make easy company in both modern and traditional interiors.
| Samantha's Picks Samantha Robinson | Vice President, Design, Chicago
Stephen Powell Untitled (Z73) from the 'Zoomers' Series
This auction offers a strong selection of works by late contemporary glass artist Stephen Powell, drawn from two private collections. It includes two examples from Powell's final series entitled Zoomers, presented for the first time at auction. The series stands as the culminating chapter of his artistic career, reflecting a shift from the vessel-based, asymmetrical forms of earlier series like Teasers, Screamers, and Whackos to monumental, wall-mounted panels that explore geometry, light, and color on a grand architectural scale. Created shortly before his death in 2019, the Zoomers mark a bold evolution—retaining his signature murrini technique and vivid palette while embracing a new structural format.
Albert Paley Dragon's Back Table
American sculptor and designer Albert Paley is celebrated for his powerful yet expressive metalwork that straddles the boundary between art and design. Among his most iconic pieces is the Dragon's Back Table, a limited edition work that combines a forged and fabricated steel base and glass top. Its fluid, interlocking metal forms evoke the sinuous, muscular movement of a dragon's spine. This example comes from an important collection of contemporary glass, which is no surprise given Paley's frequent collaborations with glass artists such as Dale Chihuly, Martin Blank, and Dante Marioni.
| Christianne's Picks Christianne Teague | Consignment Director, Design & Decorative Arts, Beverly Hills
Ulla and Martin Kaufmann Ear Cuffs
We are thrilled to offer a strong selection of art & artist jewelry (lots 67001–67017) this season. It's almost impossible to pick a favorite, but I do love these ear cuffs by Ulla and Martin Kaufmann. For decades, they've pushed the limits of gold as a material, and their works pair luxurious, velvety hand-hammered surfaces with a refined sense of form and movement. The ear cuffs—elegant looping forms characteristic of the Kaufmanns' work—feel almost like a magic act; the cuffs comfortably yet firmly attach to the ear through tension alone. The clean, minimalist design, undisrupted by extraneous details like clasps or hinges, could only be executed by true masters of their craft.
Jun Kaneko Untitled (Dango)
Jun Kaneko's Dango is one of the most recognizable forms in contemporary ceramics. The name—an ironic reference to the small, bite-sized Japanese dumpling—contrasts with the works' often monumental scale, with the largest reaching an astonishing thirteen feet in height. Each is hand-built and glazed by Kaneko, featuring all-over patterning executed in strong colors that demand attention. The manageable scale of this example paired with its visually striking color palette make it a perfect example for the individual collector.
| Ben's Picks Ben Windsor | Cataloguer, Decorative Arts, Dallas
Toland Peter Sand Untitledy
You must see this piece in person to appreciate its magic. The sculpture refracts light beautifully, revealing a unique shape and vibrant array of color with every shift in lighting or viewing angle. It transforms a well-lit space into a captivating display of movement and brilliance.
Lucio Bubacco Goblet
I love the intricacies of each Lucio Bubacco piece in this sale, but with spooky season in full effect, this one truly stands out. It's simultaneously beautiful, eerie, and over the top! A perfect conversation piece for collectors drawn to the unusual or macabre.
| Elinor's Pick Elinor Chalmers | Cataloguer, Decorative Arts, Dallas
Val Bertoia B-3006 Moving Sounds
One of my favorite lots in this sale is Val Bertoia's B-3006 Moving Sounds. The sculpture blends movement, metal, and resonance into an immersive, meditative experience. As part of his ongoing exploration of sound-producing forms, it engages the eye and produces harmonic tones when touched or set in motion by natural forces. Bertoia's work invites a deep sensory connection, transforming any space through both visual elegance and sonic presence.
| Aaron's Pick Aaron Crosett | Consignment Coordinator, Fine & Decorative Arts, Dallas
Preston Singletary Alligator Goblet
While this auction showcases a variety of big names and incredible designs, I think the simple and whimsical nature of a goblet in the shape of an alligator makes me enjoy it even more. The design from top to bottom is clean and well detailed. From the scales on the back, to the piercing orange eyes, this work by Preston Singletary is sure to elevate your collection and bring lighthearted fun anyone can enjoy.
Browse and bid on these and over 150 exceptional pieces in our October 23 Modern Design Signature® Auction. Sincerely,
|  | Michael Hartman Director, Modern Design, New York MHartman@HA.com (212) 486-2492
|  | 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
|  | Ben Windsor Cataloguer, Decorative Arts, Dallas BenW@HA.com (214) 409-1142
|  | Elinor Chalmers Cataloguer, Decorative Arts, Dallas ElinorC@HA.com (214) 409-1276
|  | Aaron Crosett Consignment Coordinator, Fine & Decorative Arts, Dallas AaronC@HA.com (214) 528-3500