Sotheby’s Paris auction house will once again become the epicenter of world design. One of the most anticipated auctions of the season – “Important Design” – will take place today, May 20, 2025, at 2:30 pm (CEST). The auction will feature unique works at the intersection of art, craft, architecture and functional design. This year’s edition is curated by Florent Jeanniard, global head of 20th century design at Sotheby’s. A respected expert and authority on collectibles. Therefore, design at Sotheby’s will show its best and unique face today.
Design at Sotheby’s – Works by masters from surrealism to modernism
The catalog features works by some of the most prominent designers and artists of the 20th and 21st centuries – François-Xavier Lalanne, Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, Carlo Mollino, Diego Giacometti, Ettore Sottsass, Jean Royère, Maria Pergay or Isamu Noguchi.
The personal piece “Bar aux Autruches” by François-Xavier Lalanne (1967-1968), made of bisque porcelain and metal, attracts unprecedented attention. This surreal bar, in which ostrich wings hide functional storage compartments and an egg turns into an ice container, is a cult object. Its estimate reaches 3-4 million euros, and the history associated with the artist’s private bedroom adds to the work’s almost museum-like character.
Between sculpture and furniture – design that captivates the soul and the eye
This year’s auction explores the boundaries between utility and artistic expression. The works for sale are not just everyday objects – they are sculptures that inhabit interiors, redefining notions of aesthetics, function and space.
Special works and occasions:
- Jean Prouvé’s 1950 dresser – technical perfection meets brutalist minimalism here.
- Isamu Noguchi coffee table – an icon of organic design, in keeping with the harmonious zen philosophy.
- Maria Pergaya sofa in wrought iron and leather – an example of luxury modernism inspired by Middle Eastern architecture.
- “Totem” lamp by André Dubreuil, resembling a Gothic obelisk made of glass and copper.
- A set of furniture from Charlotte Perriand’s atelier, designed for the alpine resort of Les Arcs.
- A prototype chair from the Memphis Milano era, made by an independent artist in collaboration with Sottsass – never before offered to the public.
- The works of Pablo Picasso!
Why is the world looking at Paris?
The Important Design Auction is not just a trade event. It provides a barometer of trends for interior designers, collectors and investors from around the world. Objects exhibited at Sotheby’s set future aesthetic and investment trends. In turn, their prices often reach record levels. As a result, they are an alternative asset class in the portfolios of conscious collectors.
The auction combines the historical heritage of European craftsmanship with modern collecting. Therefore, it attracts both gallery owners and representatives of major fashion houses, luxury brands and private cultural institutions.
Curatorial vision and savoir-faire
Florent Jeanniard, who has been responsible for the shape of this auctions, emphasizes in this year’s catalog:
“Design is not just for viewing. It should live among us – surprise, delight and inspire. This is exactly the kind of objects we are presenting this year.”
The curator’s hand is evident in the dialogue between materials – glass, porcelain, metal, wood. And in the masterful balance between style icons and works that are more niche, yet equally valuable culturally and in terms of investment.
Investment in beauty – prices and trend, or how much design costs at Sotheby’s
Objects exhibited during Important Design at Sotheby’s reach estimates ranging from 20,000 euros for smaller, historical details to several million euros for the rarest works from private collections and artists’ ateliers.
Increasing the value of design as an investment asset has been observed for more than a decade. Paris, on the other hand – along with New York and Milan – remains its focal point.
Design at Sotheby’s: Art, function and the dream
Sotheby’s Important Design Auction is a celebration of timeless beauty encapsulated in furniture, lighting and functional forms. That’s why have inspired the world for decades architecture, art and collecting. As a result, it is an event that shows that design is one of the most important and sensual branches of contemporary culture today.
