Sofia Sayn-Wittgenstein shares how Phillips is braving today’s auction market

“One of the most rewarding aspects of our work is connecting collectors with rare, often longheld pieces of design. Whether it’s French, Italian, contemporary design or other categories, these treasures carry unique stories and heritage that add tremendous value to any collection,” she adds.

For Sayn-Wittgenstein, the market for design is constantly evolving, often cyclical, reflecting shifting tastes and trends. Currently, Phillips is seeing notable interest from clients in several key areas, including 20th-century French market and British studio ceramics, of which the auction house is proud for building a solid reputation in recent years.

In the recent London auction, Phillips also showcased a group of postmodernist works, including pieces by Shiro Kuramata, and had a fierce bidding for his How High the Moon sofa, which sold for GBP177,800—over five times its pre-sale high estimate and had set a world auction record for a sofa from this series. “We have also seen exceptional prices achieved for works by Gaetano Pesce and Ettore Sottsass, a testament to the current demand for postmodernist design,” she says.

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There is also a strong demand for great names of mid-century French design, such as Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand and Jean Royère, shares Sayn-Wittgenstein. In Phillips’ upcoming auction on November 13, a stunning Tunisie bookcase by Perriand from the Fifties, designed for the student rooms at the Cité Internationale Universitaire in Paris, will be presented.

Sayn-Wittgenstein attributes collectors’ heightened involvement in the dynamics of their own collections, which leads to the increased sophistication of the auction market, to their access to research and information through the Internet and social media.

Amidst all this, Sayn-Wittgenstein values the trust they have built with their clients as an important factor and an impetus for them to constantly deliver.

“To meet these evolving demands, we actively listen to our collecting community, discussing with our clients their interests, likes and dislikes,” she says.

With 41 per cent of their buyers last spring being first-time auction participants and Millennials and Gen Z collectors accounting for 26 per cent of bidders and buyers, Phillips recognises the demographic shift as a call for the auction house to find innovative means of creating a seamless, modern and enjoyable auction experience without sacrificing transparency and education.

“We typically present a diverse selection of works by architects and designers from across the globe, ranging from French and Italian to Nordic, Japanese and Brazilian design, among other categories, spanning from the early 20th century to contemporary works,” Sayn-Wittgenstein explains. Thorough research and expert curation come into play when Phillips highlights objects of varied forms from the past 130 years or so. This is crucial when offering clients incredibly rare pieces, for them to see the extraordinary and diverse spectrum of work within the design market.

Phillips hosts two auctions per year in each of its flagships in London, New York and Hong Kong. “One upcoming auction we’re particularly excited about is taking place in December in New York, titled Moved by Beauty: Works by Lucie Rie from an Important Asian Collection. This auction will feature over 70 pieces by the renowned British studio ceramicist. A true pioneer, Rie is celebrated for her modernist pottery and masterful craftsmanship. Her distinctive glazes, including her signature blues, yellows, greens and pinks, will be prominently featured in this collection. Rie’s works are highly sought after, with her top pieces often selling in the six-figure range, making this a rare and exciting opportunity to see a significant collection of her work together in one place,” Sayn-Wittgenstein shares.

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