Movements that Dared to be Different: The Age of Design


April 2026

There are moments in design history when creativity does more than evolve. It redefines how we live. The Age of Design captures one of those turning points, bringing together the craftsmanship, innovation and bold artistic thinking that shaped interiors at the dawn of the modern age.

Taking place on Friday 1 May at 11am, this is a celebration of homes filled with intention, where every object, from furniture to glassware, was designed not just to function, but to inspire.


The Poetry of Craft: Arts & Crafts Highlights


Rooted in honesty and materiality, the Arts and Crafts movement invites a slower, more considered way of living, one where craftsmanship is visible and deeply valued.

Leading this section is a Liberty and Co hammered copper mirror, set with luminous Ruskin cabochons and guided at £500 - £800. It is a piece that quietly anchors a room while rewarding closer inspection.

Furniture plays a strong supporting role, particularly a Shapland and Petter oak sideboard at £100 - £200, with its balanced proportions and thoughtful detailing. Alongside it, a carved oak firescreen at £150 - £250 offers a softer, more decorative interpretation of the same ideals.

Smaller objects bring intimacy and charm. A David Veasey pewter loving cup at £150 - £200 carries both craftsmanship and sentiment, while a Royal Lancastrian lustre vase at £200 - £300 introduces a gentle richness of surface and colour.

Elsewhere in the sale, copperwork from Newlyn and Keswick, along with Liberty Tudric pieces and hand crafted furniture, continue this story. Each object reinforces the movement’s belief that beauty belongs in everyday life.

Nature in Motion: Art Nouveau Elegance


Art Nouveau transforms interiors into living environments, spaces where line, light and form flow seamlessly together.

A striking focal point is a cast iron Art Nouveau fireplace, its sculptural female figure and foliate detailing creating a dramatic centrepiece, estimated at £400 - £600.

Equally captivating is a large stained glass panel, depicting birds among reeds and water, offered at £200 - £400. It brings a sense of movement and tranquillity into the home as it shifts with the light throughout the day.

These are complemented by further Nouveau influences across the sale, from elegantly curved furniture to delicately decorated glass, all echoing the movement’s fascination with nature and the human form.

Modernity and Glamour: Art Deco Statements


With Art Deco, the mood shifts. Forms sharpen, colours intensify and design takes on a new confidence.

At its pinnacle is a René Lalique Ceylan vase, a refined opalescent design estimated at £2,000 - £3,000, embodying the sophistication and technical mastery of the period.

In contrast, the vibrant energy of Clarice Cliff’s Autumn Crocus coffee service at £300 - £500 brings bold pattern and colour to the table, a reminder that Deco interiors were as playful as they were stylish.

The narrative continues with other striking pieces, including additional Lalique glass, geometric lighting and ceramics, as well as later interpretations such as a set of Mackintosh style ‘Argyle’ dining chairs at £400 - £600, which reinterpret earlier design ideas for modern living.

A Lifestyle Shaped by Design


What makes this sale so compelling is how naturally these movements sit together. Each, in its own way, challenged tradition and reimagined the relationship between people and the objects they live with.

From the handcrafted warmth of Arts and Crafts to the fluid elegance of Art Nouveau and the poised confidence of Art Deco, The Age of Design offers more than beautiful things. It offers a way of living with design that still feels relevant today.

With bidding already underway and the live auction taking place on Friday 1 May at 11am, now is the moment to explore the catalogue, choose your favourites and place your bids.
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