Design
Encompassing art and design, objects, ceramics, pictures, as well as ephemera, toys, posters and collectables from a period that used new techniques, new styles and new materials.
This period saw the race for space and the moon and saw explorers reach new depths and heights to conquer the last parts of our unexplored planet.
Conformity was thrown out - the new generation wanted something different. Music developed quicker in this period than ever before which rolled out Rock ‘n’ Roll to Punk. Fashion saw a shift from the clean lines to the crazy psychedelic colours of the 1960s’ counter-culture. From Buddy Holly to the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix to Ziggy Stardust, Teddy boys to Glam Rock.
Technological advances helped new architectural styles and buildings, develop in a way never thought possible from the Skylon, in the Festival of Britain to the Sydney Opera House in Australia. The first computers commercially successful were developed and the world saw the awakening of a network technology that would ultimately emerge as the world wide web.
Brionvega, Sony, Hitachi and Braun all became household names through their electrical products that became widely available to millions. From rationing to the new techniques in farming practises the world saw a revolution in how the world was fed, how food was stored and how food was eaten. Families sat eating ‘Fast Food’ and ‘TV dinners’ while watching the greatest nation on earth lose a war in Vietnam. The great TV shows such as Star Trek, Monty Python and Thunderbirds emerged as favourites and James Bond, Hitchcock’s Psycho and Kubrick’s 2001 Space Odyssey defined a new style in film. New stars were born and were followed by the ‘Beat Generation’ such as James Dean and Marlon Brando.
Plastic became the material of choice in furniture, sculpture and fashion. Studio pottery became more sculptural. And metal was cast and moulded into unbelievable forms.
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Our specialists hold regular valuation days. Please contact us for more information, or complete the online form to enquire about the valuation of your items.
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Specialist Otto Billstrom speaks to us about Bertil Vallien, a renowned artist in contemporary art glass, who has harnessed the ancient art of sand-casting glass to create a unique and distinctive body of work. In our upcoming October 31st sale, six distinctive idols, crafted using this technique, will be offered.
27 October 2023
Sworders are delighted to be offering a private collection of Gnomeman furniture as part of our 31st of October Design Sale, acquired by the parents of the vendor directly from the artist’s studio outside Littlebeck in Yorkshire where they travelled regularly to make new purchases throughout the 1950s.
17 October 2023
In our 31 October sale, the Design department at Sworders are delighted to offer pieces from the extraordinary collection of Clive Wainwright (1942-1999), following the successful exhibition with H Blairman & Sons in London, emphasising the Gothic Revival period in general, and AWN Pugin in particular.
12 October 2023
