The Modern Living & Design Auction, ending Friday 26 June 2026 from 11:00, brings together a stylish selection of mid-century, contemporary and statement interior pieces, celebrating bold design, craftsmanship and individuality. This is a sale with real personality, combining sculptural furniture, eye-catching ceramics, distinctive lighting, modern works of art and decorative objects with strong collector appeal. From elegant Art Deco inspired design to characterful studio pottery and contemporary painting, the catalogue offers plenty for interiors buyers, collectors and those looking to add a striking focal point to a modern living space.

Whether you are drawn to clean lines, rich materials, playful forms or pieces with a story behind them, this sale offers a curated mix of design-led lots suited to both collecting and contemporary interiors.

Furniture with Form & Presence

The furniture section brings together pieces that combine practicality with strong visual impact, from refined luxury finishes to mid-century statement seating and entertaining pieces.

Among the highlights is Lot 2015, a Giorgio Collection Art Deco design macassar ebony ‘Luna’ console table, estimated at £800 to £1,200. Retailed by Harrods, the table has a rectangular bow-front top with cross-banding and sunburst veneer, fitted with a single drawer and raised on a curved U-shaped base. With its rich macassar ebony finish and architectural profile, it offers a polished statement piece for a hallway, living room or design-led interior.

British mid-century design is represented by Lot 2070, an Ernest Race DA3 wingback settee, estimated at £300 to £500. Upholstered in buttoned beige fabric, the settee reflects Race’s interest in modern furniture that balanced comfort, economy of form and everyday usability. Its wingback shape gives it a softer, more domestic presence, while its mid-20th century design credentials make it an appealing piece for collectors and interiors buyers alike. For those who like their furniture with a little theatre, Lot 2010, a Barget of London mid-20th century cocktail bar, offers plenty of character. Estimated at £80 to £120, the L-shaped bar combines teak, black vinyl, gilt metal banding, glazed display and open shelving, with applied lattice mouldings to the front. It is a wonderfully sociable piece, full of vintage entertaining appeal and ideal for a home bar, studio or retro-inspired interior.

Art With Character & Contemporary Energy

The art in the sale ranges from bold contemporary work to atmospheric landscapes and graphic mixed media, offering buyers the chance to introduce colour, scale and narrative into an interior.

One of the most distinctive works is Lot 2001, Joseph Gilgun’s Bigfoot, a mixed media on canvas estimated at £1,000 to £2,000. Best known to many as an actor for productions such as 'Brassic' and 'This is England', Gilgun brings a striking personal energy to this work, which was gifted to the vendor by the artist as a thank you for his work on the television show Brassic. That direct provenance gives the piece added interest, while its scale and expressive handling make it a strong contemporary statement.

Landscape takes on a more expansive form in Lot 2079, Kane Cunningham’s Northdale, estimated at £400 to £600. Signed, titled and dated 2021 verso, the large oil on canvas measures 119cm x 149cm, giving it real presence. Cunningham’s work often engages with place, weather and the changing character of the coastline and landscape, and this piece offers the kind of scale that can anchor a room. A more intimate contemporary work appears in Lot 2006, Vin Dantes’ Chromazephyr, a charcoal and acrylic on paper estimated at £100 to £200. Unframed and signed, it combines line, texture and colour in a compact format, offering an accessible entry point for buyers looking to add a piece of contemporary art to their collection.

Decorative Objects & Collectable Design

The decorative objects in the auction featured pieces where craftsmanship, surface and form take centre stage, from luxury lacquer work to bronze sculpture, studio ceramics and much more.

Leading this area is Lot 2000, an S. T. Dupont Kawasemi Kingfisher Maki-E lighter by artist Tadashi Inami, estimated at £3,000 to £5,000. Presented in its original box and bearing serial number 19CJN97, it is a highly decorative object that brings together luxury design and traditional Japanese lacquer technique. The kingfisher motif gives the piece colour and movement, while its presentation and limited nature add to its collector appeal.

Sculpture is represented by Lot 2023, John Huggins’ Girl with Hoop, a bronze upon a black lacquered wooden base, estimated at £300 to £500. Huggins, a Fellow of the Royal British Society of Sculptors, is known for his figurative work, and this piece captures a sense of balance, play and poised movement. At 34cm high, it has a pleasing scale for display on a sideboard, console table or shelf. Studio pottery collectors will note Lot 2004, a Troika cube vase by Anne Lewis, estimated at £100 to £200. With geometric incised decoration in blue on a mottled blue ground and signed to the base with initials, it is a compact but recognisable example of Troika’s distinctive approach to form and surface. Its sculptural shape and textured decoration make it well suited to modern interiors, whether displayed alone or as part of a wider ceramics collection.

Explore The Auction

The Modern Living & Design Auction brings together a lively and varied catalogue, with pieces chosen for their form, finish, character and design appeal. From mid-century furniture and statement seating to contemporary art, studio ceramics, bronze sculpture and luxury decorative objects, the sale offers plenty to discover.

Whether furnishing a modern home, adding a focal point to an interior or building a collection of design-led pieces, this auction presents an engaging mix of style, craftsmanship and individuality. Bidding is now open and ends on Friday 26 June 2026 from 11:00, live online and from David Duggleby Auctioneers in Scarborough. Browse the full catalogue online and register to bid.

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