Mid-century modern design a Hong Kong auction hit - is it the next must-have collectible?
Chairs, tables and ceramics by mid-century master craftsmen, designers are in demand at Hong Kong sales. helped by a variety of entry points
Could design be the next new hot collectible? As prices in the contemporary art market continue to soar, it appears that some collectors have already started to snap up chairs, tables and ceramics by mid-century master craftsmen and designers.
The trend is being led in part by the auction houses where art and design are being presented side by side. It seems to be achieving some success. In late 2016 in Hong Kong, auction house Phillips introduced a rare example Chieftain armchair designed by Danish architect Finn Juhl in 1949 and handcrafted in Brazilian Rosewood by the master cabinetmaker Niels Vodder. The work achieved a price of about HK$1.94 million, while a curvaceous “Ghost Rider” rocking chair in Bubinga wood by American designer Wendell Castle sold for HK$1.25 million.
“The prices did not come as a surprise because of the quality of craftsmanship that was on offer and a growing interest in this field,” says Phillips deputy chairman, Asia, Jonathan Crockett.
Crockett says interest has been mounting from the Asia region, with collectors already actively participating in their auction sales in New York and London.
