London – Paul Cocksedge will unveil a unique work from "Squeeze", a new installation recently previewed at Paris Design Week, to mark Bonhams Design and Contemporary Ceramics Sale running online from 14-23 October. The work, an exploration of light, form and the alchemy behind mirror-making will be on view at Bonhams New Bond Street alongside the Design Sale from the 21-23 October.

Marcus McDonald, Director of Design and Contemporary Ceramics comments, "It is a delight to collaborate with Paul Cocksedge and showcase his new work direct from Paris Design Week. Paul is an internationally acclaimed artist known for his innovative approach to materials and is the perfect partner for our Design Sale which is a celebration of material, form and function. This October sees the Design sale featuring works by some of the most talented artists and designers of the 20th century and we expect considerable interest."

Paul Cocksedge added, "To have the opportunity to showcase this new work at Bonhams to mark the autumn Design Sale is a real joy. Exploring the works in this sale, created by some of the most influential designers, many of whom pushed boundaries and experimented with materials, has been hugely inspiring."

With over 180 lots, the sale spans work from the early Aesthetic Movement by designers such as Christopher Dresser (1834-1904), considered the first industrial designer, to Art Deco, with pieces by craftsman and French metalsmith Edgar Brandt (1880-1960) as well as Jean Dunand (1877-1942) widely considered one of the most pre-eminent artists and designers of the Art Deco era. Work by celebrated names such as René Lalique, Carlo Bugatti, Alvar Aalto, Arnold Madsen and Lucie Rie among others will also feature.

Highlights from the Design and Contemporary Ceramics sale include:

• Edgar Brandt Bookcase, designed for a private commission by Mr Edward Mitchell, Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, France, 1920s. Estimate: £10,000-15,000.

• Lucie Rie, Footed bowl, circa 1980-1981, porcelain, grey glazes with inlaid radiating lines, turquoise and manganese bands. Estimate: £10,000-15,000.

• Carlo Bugatti Armchair, circa 1898. The present model armchair was presented at the 1898 Esposizione Nazionale in Turin. Estimate: £5,000-7,000.

• Christopher Dresser, Claret Jug, circa 1890, Sterling silver, glass. Estimate: £5,000-7,000.

• Arnold Madsen, Easy Chair, produced 1953-1960s, Estimate: £5,000-7,000.

• Jean Dunand, Vase 1914, patinated maillechort, brass. Estimate: £5,000-7,000.

Lucie Rie and the humble button

A charming collection of ceramic buttons designed by Lucie Rie, one of the most significant potters of her generation, will also be offered as well as collections of Lucie Rie brooches, buckles and hatpins. Highlights include a group of seven gold glazed ceramic buttons, some with glass elements made at the Bimini workshop and offered with an estimate of £500-800, to a charming collection of 23 ceramic buttons and stick pins with an estimate of £800-1,200.

Rie's buttons have been the subject of much attention with exhibitions at both York Art Gallery in 2018-2019 and at Kettles Yard in 2023. In 1938, Lucie Rie fled her home in Vienna for London to escape the Nazi persecution of Jewish people. During the war, unable to get a licence to make pots, Rie turned to making ceramic buttons for the fashion industry, experimenting on a miniature scale with new forms and coloured glazes.

Bonhams x Paul Cocksedge

Alongside the unique works from "Squeeze", Paul Cocksedge will select his curated highlights from the sale, drawing on objects that resonate through their design or materiality.

About Paul Cocksedge

Paul Cocksedge lives and works in Hackney, East London. Together with Joana Pinho, he founded the internationally renowned design practice, Paul Cocksedge Studio. Known for pushing the boundaries of materials and technology, the studio has created a wide range of projects that blend art, design and engineering. Cocksedge's work is characterised by its innovative use of materials and light, resulting in designs that are both visually stunning and conceptually rich. His installations have been featured in major cultural institutions and public spaces worldwide.

Mayfair Design District

Paul Cocksedge's "Squeeze" and Bonhams Design and Contemporary Ceramics Sale are part of the Mayfair Design District season of events running from September to December 2024. Mayfair Design District exists to celebrate the very best in collectible art, fashion and design the area has to offer. @mayfairdesigndistrict.

18 September 2024