For International Women’s Day, we’re spotlighting four women at Sworders and the opportunities, learning and support that have shaped their careers.
8 March 2026
We are delighted to be offering a collection of Roberto Rigon's stylised animal works in our first Design auction of 2026, which takes place on Tuesday 27 January.
24 November 2025
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Roberto Rigon was born in 1929, in Friola di Pozzoleone, Vicenza province, in the Veneto region of northern Italy. He undertook studies at the Regia Scuola d’Arte di Nove, a school well‐known for ceramics. Whilst there, Rigon was influenced by Giovanni Petucco and Andrea Parini.
Roberto Rigon (Italian, b.1929), two cats (and a stoat) (£200-300)
In the early 1950s, Rigon made a venture with Gianni Tosin and Luigi Gheno called l’Etruria, which was not a success. He then worked for different companies including Alessi and Bertoncello Ceramiche of Schiavon, who were known for their modern, sculptural ceramic works in the 1960s‐70s.
After these collaborations, Rigon, along with his wife, founded his own ceramics studio ‘Ceramiche Rigon’ (Rigon Ceramics).
Roberto Rigon (Italian, b.1929) Left: a howling dog (a barking deer, a horse and an elephant) (£150-200) Right: a boar (a cat and a rhinoceros) (£150-200)
Our next highly anticipated Design auction will be held on Tuesday 27 January 2026. The sale will feature twenty-six animals, grouped in eight lots of his stylised animal works, with examples in the ‘Smalto sasso’ (stone enamel) glaze.
Roberto Rigon (Italian, b.1929), a lion, an elephant and a bull (£200-400)
Fun, stylish and cool; these will turn some heads in the depths of winter, and might just be your first auction purchase of the new year!

design@sworder.co.uk | 01279 817778
We are excited to share a collection of works from the estate of John Nash that features in our 31 March 'Modern & Contemporary Art' auction.
6 March 2026
One of the most rewarding aspects of our auctions is the opportunity to present a personal collection - an intimate glimpse into the tastes, influences and inspirations that shaped an individual’s life. This March, our Modern & Contemporary Art sale offers exactly that: a capsule of 20 works (lots 202–221) from the private art collection of Michael Rand, the celebrated art editor and director of The Sunday Times Magazine.
6 March 2026