Mad for Modern
By Kate Novack; Richard Wright
Summer 2005 Style & Design
Chicago auction house Wright has become a key source for midcentury
objects. Founder Richard Wright offers his insights on a booming market
WITH ICONS LIKE SAARINEN OUT OF VOGUE AT THE MOMENT, WHO'S HOT IN THE
COLLECTIBLES WORLD?
Sixties and '70s things are hip again—the work of Paul Evans and Maria
Pergay, for example. A pair of Pergay's stainless-steel chairs sold for
$77,000. We had an anonymous cabinet—simply titled "1970s
cabinet"—estimated at $2,000 to $3,000, and it ended up selling for
$14,400.
DO YOU GROAN WHEN YOU SEE YET ANOTHER RE-EDITION OF A GEORGE NELSON
CLOCK?
It does cheapen the visual impact if you see it on The Apprentice and in
every hair salon. The flip side is that the general awareness of 20th
century design has gone up exponentially. I started in this business 18
years ago, and stuff from the '50s was considered junk.
YOU RECENTLY STARTED OFFERING "BRANDED LUXURY" ITEMS.
We were surprised at how much interest there was in Gucci, which does
this fun, self-consciously tacky look from the '70s. Louis Vuitton
trunks did well, and an oversize leather rhinoceros that was a display
fixture at Abercrombie & Fitch brought $7,200.
WHAT PIECE DO YOU DREAM MIGHT COME THROUGH YOUR DOOR?
There's a coffee table by Noguchi that was done for the Goodyear family.
It could bring $1 million. It's pictured in all kinds of books. I don't
know where it is, though. It's like a mythical object.
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His life and death recalled in images
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