The winds of fashion have been kinder to 20th century furniture than they have to more traditional material. But the criteria of quality and condition still apply, said George Schooling of Essex auction house Sworders (22% buyer’s premium) after its January 31 sale at Stansted Mountfitchet dedicated to 20th century design.
“Arts & Crafts furniture, particularly Cotswolds School, is in demand but, for high prices, names and provenance are everything, ” he added.
At Sworders, Cotswolds royalty was well represented, including Ernest Gimson, who designed the walnut secretaire chest which quadrupled the estimate at £42,000 and the cedar linen press, probably made by Peter Waals, which went to the UK trade at a five-times-estimate £22,000 (ATG No 2278).