Gerald Summers (1889-1967)

Gerald Summers was an incredibly innovative British Modernist designer and in only ten years produced over a hundred furniture designs which captured the zeitgeist of the 1930s. One of his most celebrated works, the Bent Plywood Armchair (Lot 103), will be featured in the auction.

Manufactured by Makers of Simple Furniture between 1934-1940, the chair is made from a single rectangle of ply; the seven 3 mm thick sheets with four lengthwise and 2 lateral cuts were placed on top of each other (13 layers in total), sandwiched with the adhesive used in the aviation industry and laid in the mould. After only eight hours the chair was removed and required minimal finishing. The design is ingenious because not only are all the component parts constructed from a single piece of bent plywood giving the design its distinctive visual appeal, but also because the chair was the first to be formed in a mould.

Summers achieved with this Modernist masterpiece what his counterparts across Europe and Scandinavia had been striving for, as it encompasses in the simplest terms the ideal unity of material, production, function and form.

Daniel Rohr (B. 1968)

From German designer Daniel Rohr, comes Lot 32, the 'Colander Table', designed in 2009 and exhibited at Milan Design Week (2010/11), LAPADA (2011), and Masterpiece London (2016). Winner of the Country Life/LAPADA 'Object of the Year 2011,' this table is a masterful exploration of space and material. By creating an empty space between the plate glass surface and the bowl of the table, and within the material itself and the 909 holes, the artist has created an illusion. When viewed from certain angles, the glass surface disappears becoming one with the mirror polished aluminium below and objects placed on the surface appear to float. The legs too, take up the theme with their vertically milled lines deduced from the pattern of the holes in the table, the light and shadow effect produced gives them the appearance of glass. 

The Colander Table is significant in terms of re-thinking the possibilities of both the form and the material used. As with the enthusiasm for plywood as a 'new' material able to be used in innovative ways in the mid-20th century, Rohr shows us here at the beginning of the 21st century, new ways with aluminium. The hand polished CNC milling process is the only way to achieve the tautness of curve, precision of design and superb level of finish required to achieve this merging of space and material. This is a unique and beautiful design which transcends its traditional form and the time of its making; it luxuriates in the possibilities of the material and the ingenious process of its production. The artist has fulfilled his dream; a museum quality piece of art/design furniture made without compromise.

Betty Joel (1894-1985)

Betty Joel was an impressive business woman, and talented (perhaps occasionally overlooked) female furniture, textile and interior designer active in England during the interwar years. Joel epitomised the elegance and innovation of early 20th century furniture design. The auction features two of her works: Lot 116, a cocktail cabinet on chest crafted by Token Works in 1938, and Lot 117, a 'KB' radio, dating to circa 1935.

"I personally began to design furniture because I despaired of trying to adapt old furniture to the needs of my own entirely modern house.”

~ Betty Joel in 1932

Joel's works are known for their distinct art deco style; the designs were modern yet functional, using high-quality woods and detailed joinery; examples can be found in the V&A and Geffrye museums in London. 

Pierre Jeanneret (1896-1967)

We are pleased to present a selection of pieces by Swiss designer and architect Pierre Jeanneret (Lots 140-147), including coffee tables, bookcases, and chairs designed around 1960. These works were created during his time in India, where he played a key role in designing the city of Chandigarh.

The city Chandigarh, named after the Hindu goddess of power, 'Chandi', was built as a symbol of a free and modern India. Pierre Jeanneret supervised numerous construction sites there, including the Governor's Palace, the Parliament Building, the High Court and the Secretariat. He, alongside Maxwell Frey and Jane Drew, were the principal architects for a vast number of civic and private structures, housing, administrative buildings, education facilities, libraries, shops and even a cinema. Jeanneret worked and lived in India for around 15 years, during which time he was appointed Chief Architect of the State of Punjab and Director of the Chandigarh School of Architecture. In order to furnish the numerous private and public building of Chandigarh, Jeanneret developed, with the help of young Indian assistants, a complete range of minimalist, elegant and seemingly simple interior pieces, entitled 'Low Cost Furniture'. These works were made from local materials, primarily teak, either left in their natural colour or dyed. The seats and backs were made with traditional cane work or upholstered in cotton.

David Linley (B. 1961)

David Armstrong-Jones, 2^nd Earl of Snowdon, styled as Viscount Linley, is a member of the extended British royal family. He is known professionally as David Linley and is renowned for his exquisite furniture designs. His brand, Linley, specialises in highly sought-after pieces that blend fine craftsmanship with luxurious materials. In this auction, we offer several of his works (Lots 62-66). Lot 66, an octagonal 'Map of the World' boardroom table, commissioned in 2011, features an intricate marquetry map crafted from walnut, burr walnut, maple, satinwood, and macassar ebony.

Another highlight is Lot 65, a 'Royal Albert Hall' humidor, made circa 2000, inlaid with seasoned hardwoods including sycamore, pine, and burr maple, and lined with Spanish cedarwood. Likely a unique commission, this piece exemplifies Linley’s signature blend of elegance and innovation.

Marcel Breuer (1920-1981)

The Bauhaus movement was founded by Walter Gropius in Weimar Germany just after the end of World War I in 1919. Their aim was to unify fine art, craft and industrial design by rejecting past styles that, in their eyes, boasted an excess of ornamentation. Marcel Breuer was a pioneer of modernist furniture design. As a key member of the German art school, Breuer was instrumental in shaping the aesthetics and functionality of early 20th century furniture. Both his architectural and homeware designs reflected the Bauhaus ethos; the integration of art, craft and technology, aimed at producing objects that were not only beautiful but also utilitarian and affordable. This auction features three of his pieces (Lots 107-109), including a set of three nesting tables, a 'Long Chair', and a pair of 'Model B3/Wassily' armchairs.

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Auction Details

Wednesday 16 April 2025, 10.30am BST
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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VIEWING:

• Viewing at Dreweatts Newbury: Donnington Priory, RG14 2JE
  • Sunday 13 April: 10am-3pm
  • Monday 14 April: 10am-4pm
  • Tuesday 15 April: 10am-4pm
  • Wednesday 16 April: 9am-1pm
• Dreweatts Remote Viewing Service | Available from Sunday 13 April