Collection by Kelsey Keith

Shopping Mass Modern Auction at Wright

Chicago-based auction house Wright is well-regarded for its 20th-century furniture sales—and for discoveries of underrated modern craft. We've rounded up our top ten picks from the 2014 Mass Modern sale, many of which are available with no reserve (look for the piggy bank icon next to the estimated sale price).

The Mass Modern auction at Wright opens on June 12, 2014 at 10am EST.

Dieter Rams for a song: his circa-1961 HL1 desk fan for Braun, which is in working order, is estimated at $500-$700. (No reserve.)
Dieter Rams for a song: his circa-1961 HL1 desk fan for Braun, which is in working order, is estimated at $500-$700. (No reserve.)
Fans of designer Charles Pollock will be into this pair of camel leather-upholstered office chairs designed by Pollock for Knoll, estimated to net between $700 and $900. (No reserve.) The upholstery resembles the chair he designed for Bernhardt in 2012 and the chair itself is a classic in the midcentury modern canon.
Fans of designer Charles Pollock will be into this pair of camel leather-upholstered office chairs designed by Pollock for Knoll, estimated to net between $700 and $900. (No reserve.) The upholstery resembles the chair he designed for Bernhardt in 2012 and the chair itself is a classic in the midcentury modern canon.
Ettore Sottsass's influence is everywhere in 2014, from saturated colors to postmodern silhouettes to a retrospective exhibition during Milan Design Week. Now you can snap up a piece of the magic—his Yantra series vase, in bright yellow, will yield an estimated $1,000-$1,500 with no reserve.

(See some of Sottsass's private collection, auctioned off in late 2013 at Christie's.)
Ettore Sottsass's influence is everywhere in 2014, from saturated colors to postmodern silhouettes to a retrospective exhibition during Milan Design Week. Now you can snap up a piece of the magic—his Yantra series vase, in bright yellow, will yield an estimated $1,000-$1,500 with no reserve. (See some of Sottsass's private collection, auctioned off in late 2013 at Christie's.)
American designer Paul McCobb's travertine-topped coffee table from the Irwin Collection (check out the corresponding cabinet with hutch as well) is estimated to go for $1,000-$1,500 with no reserve.
American designer Paul McCobb's travertine-topped coffee table from the Irwin Collection (check out the corresponding cabinet with hutch as well) is estimated to go for $1,000-$1,500 with no reserve.
Joe Colombo—whose exuberant, often plastic, always mod creations solidified his reputation as a go-to midcentury designer—is represented in Mass Modern with some great lighting pieces, including his Topo table lamp from 1970. Estimate $700-$900 (no reserve).
Joe Colombo—whose exuberant, often plastic, always mod creations solidified his reputation as a go-to midcentury designer—is represented in Mass Modern with some great lighting pieces, including his Topo table lamp from 1970. Estimate $700-$900 (no reserve).
Raymond Loewy, also known as the godfather of industrial design, designed this hot little laminate DF-2000 valet cabinet for the French Compagnie d'Esthetique Industrielle in 1960. Estimate is $1,000-$1,500 (no reserve).
Raymond Loewy, also known as the godfather of industrial design, designed this hot little laminate DF-2000 valet cabinet for the French Compagnie d'Esthetique Industrielle in 1960. Estimate is $1,000-$1,500 (no reserve).
Danish furniture designer Børge Mogensen was one of a handful responsible for crafting the "Danish modern" look so prevalent throughout the 20th century. His teak dining table, model 162, is expected to net between $1,000 and $1,500—a real bargain if you encounter few other bidders.
Danish furniture designer Børge Mogensen was one of a handful responsible for crafting the "Danish modern" look so prevalent throughout the 20th century. His teak dining table, model 162, is expected to net between $1,000 and $1,500—a real bargain if you encounter few other bidders.
Stephen Frykholm's Summer Picnic posters for Herman Miller, a set of five designed between 1971 and 1981, is estimated to run $1,000-$1,500. This one's on reserve.
Stephen Frykholm's Summer Picnic posters for Herman Miller, a set of five designed between 1971 and 1981, is estimated to run $1,000-$1,500. This one's on reserve.
Ever hankered for a piece of Alvar Aalto? Consider the Finnish architect's birch plywood shelving, a set of four estimated to net $1,000-$1,500 (no reserve).

Check out all the lots for sale at Wright's 2014 Mass Modern auction here.
Ever hankered for a piece of Alvar Aalto? Consider the Finnish architect's birch plywood shelving, a set of four estimated to net $1,000-$1,500 (no reserve). Check out all the lots for sale at Wright's 2014 Mass Modern auction here.