A Rare Isamu Noguchi Table Headlines Heritage’s Fall Design Auction
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Let the bidding begin. It’s time for Heritage Auction’s Fall Design Event, which officially opens for business on Nov. 1. This season’s pièce de résistance: a rare, marble-topped table by renowned 20th Century Japanese-American artist, designer, and sculptor Isamu Noguchi.
Valued at a whopping $1 million, the piece flawlessly melds form and function.
“It’s certainly among the most important works of design to come to auction this year – one of four believed to have been hand carved by the artist in his studio during a particularly experimental and prolific period of his career,” said Samantha Robinson, Heritage’s Director of Decorative Arts & Design.
“The closer a work is to the hand of the artist, the more valuable it is.”
How the auction house secured Noguchi’s table is nothing short of an antique roadshow story. Robinson explains: “Oftentimes, someone will inherit something they suspect might be important.” In this case, the consignor was Pam Richardson, who remembers it as a family fixture during her formative years.
A bit more history: the original owner was Richardson’s father, an employee at Chicago’s iconic retailer Marshall Fields. After joining the company in 1948 – the same year the table debuted at the Herman Miller showroom at the Merchandise Mart – he could have either stumbled upon the table or found it years later at a bargain price.
“Based on the photographs, what we do know is that the table was within the household by 1959.”
Still, it wasn’t until Pam contacted a Heritage Design specialist that she realized its real value. “We were able to confirm that the family had a master work on their hands,” said Robinson.
“It’s such a compelling piece, but has this sweet story attached to it,” she added. “A totally average American family home has this other worldly object in the middle of the room.”
The artistic element behind the piece is equally compelling. According to curator and historian Glenn Adamson, “It makes sense to view the table as a kit of six parts – three legs, metal bowl, plywood support, marble top – for that is how Noguchi himself approached the making of it. Look closely at the legs and you’ll see each has its own unique silhouette, not derived in any obvious way from the amorphous silhouette of the top.”
Adds Robinson: “Our table correlates very closely with some of the artist’s sculptures from this particular period.”
So, who’s buying? For starters, there’s the 1.8 million-plus in Heritage’s database.
“But I think we will attract new bidders,” said Robinson. “This is an object that would appeal to both collectors of design and sculpture, as well as contemporary art in general.”
Heritage’s Design Event also features myriad other covet-worthy pieces including hand-crafted furniture, contemporary glass, and midcentury accessories and artworks. Robinson’s top picks: an Arthur Espenet carpenter table and set of eight armchairs, Serge Mouille lamps, Philip Laverne sculptures, Jean Royere room divider screen, and Lino Tagliapietra’s Dinosaur.
Bidding opens Nov. 1; preview the collection online. Prior to the live auction on Nov. 22, items will be available for viewing Nov. 19-21 at Heritage Auction, 2801 W. Airport Freeway, Dallas.
