Bonhams Modern Design | Art Auction Scheduled to End on 16 October 2026

The upcoming conclusion of the Modern Design | Art auction at Bonhams, which is officially scheduled to end on 16 October 2026, brings a curated selection of mid-century American craftsmanship and twentieth-century decorative arts to the market. The sale is highlighted by several exceptional furniture pieces designed by George Nakashima, alongside notable works by Sam Maloof, Tiffany Studios, and Alberto Vargas. Many of the premier Nakashima lots carry distinguished provenance, having been acquired directly from the designer by Drs. Melvin Cohn and Suzanne Bourgeois-Cohn, and are now being offered as a gift to the San Diego Museum of Art from the Cohn-Bourgeois Estate to benefit the museum's operating expenses.

Among the most anticipated pieces is the George Nakashima Conoid Desk, which features a beautiful combination of American black walnut and hickory. This piece, along with the Nakashima Table Lamp and the Nakashima Q Bench, represents the organic, material-focused philosophy of the legendary woodworker. According to the official catalog documentation, these specific items were acquired directly from Nakashima by the Cohns and are accompanied by digital copies of their original order cards. The sale of these pieces represents a significant moment for institutional fundraising, with all proceeds directly supporting the San Diego Museum of Art.

In addition to the three-dimensional design masterworks, the auction features a notable two-dimensional work by Alberto Vargas. Vargas, a Peruvian-American artist, became famous for his pin-up illustrations that gained immense popularity during the second global conflict, even influencing the nose art of military aircraft. Having worked extensively for Esquire magazine, Vargas produced numerous illustrations that defined the visual culture of the era. The watercolor and graphite study offered in this sale represents a classic example of his celebrated style.

This sale is positioned within a busy autumn calendar for Bonhams. In recent weeks, the house has concluded several specialized auctions, including the History of Science, Technology & Computing sale in October, which realized $1,272,325^[1], the New York Watches sale in October, which brought in $1,086,146^[1], and the Photographs sale in October, which achieved $708,558^[1]. These results contribute to Bonhams's broader performance, with the house achieving a total of $173,481,807^[1] in year-to-date realized value across its sold inventory, maintaining a solid sell-through rate of 83.5%^[1].

On a global scale, the design category remains a highly active sector of the art market. Across all tracked auction houses, the design category has accounted for $168,745,071^[1] in realized value this year, with an overall category average sell-through rate of 82%^[1]. While Christie's currently leads the category globally, Bonhams continues to secure a significant share of this specialized market. Across all of its diverse departments and sales, Bonhams has recorded a total year-to-date realized value of $407,949,141^[1].

The Modern Design | Art auction represents a key opportunity for collectors of mid-century studio craft. Bidders will be watching the performance of the Nakashima lots closely, with the Conoid Desk carrying an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000, while the Table Lamp and Q Bench are each estimated at $12,000 to $18,000. These estimates, alongside the Sam Maloof Rocking Chair at $12,000 to $18,000 and the Tiffany Studios Decorated Vase at $10,000 to $15,000, establish a clear benchmark for the current demand for high-end twentieth-century design as the bidding window approaches its final hours.