Hindman’s Springborn Collection Of Contemporary Craft Auction Realizes More Than $560,000, Exceeding Presale Estimate
Outstanding Engagement Seen with Works by Wendell Castle, Judy Kensley McKie, Sam Maloof, and Toots Zynsky, Among Others
CHICAGO – On March 23, Hindman Auctions’ Springborn Collection of Contemporary Craft sale realized over $560,000, exceeding its presale estimate. The auction offered furniture from respected collectors Robert and Carolyn Springborn, with works by renowned designers known for their innovation within the American studio craft movement. The auction saw outstanding bidder engagement with works by Wendell Castle, Judy Kensley McKie, Sam Maloof, Toots Zynsky, and others.
“We were thrilled to see such excellent engagement with the truly exceptional works we presented in this auction,” said Hindman’s Director and Senior Specialist for Modern Design Hudson Berry. “The designers featured were pioneers in the American studio craft movement, and the response that we received shows that they continue to inspire collectors.”
Lot 59 | Too Soon Chair, 2005. Wendell Castle. Price realized: $75,000
Works by Wendell Castle, a leader of the studio craft movement, saw fantastic interest. Castle’s Too Soon chair (lot 59) led the auction and realized $75,000, more than double its presale estimate. The chair is an exceptional work created through stack lamination, a construction technique that Castle developed during the 1960s. The chair is an example of how Castle created one-of-a-kind works by merging his expertise in carving, finishes, and metal casting with digital technologies such as 3D scanning and CNC milling.
Castle’s Seven Days of the Week dining suite (lot 46) was another top performer, selling for $62,500 as well as his Lite Variation #3 floor lamp (lot 52) which realized $18,750, far above its presale estimate of $8,000-12,000. Other works by Castle that achieved top prices included his Voyage console table (lot 57) and The Secret to It All desk (lot 53), which realized $20,000 and $17,500, respectively. Castle’s three-star console table (lot 58) also sold for a strong price of $16,250 against a presale estimate of $8,000-12,000.
Lot 57 | Voyage Console Table, 1995. Wendell Castle. Price realized: $17,500
Judy Kensley McKie’s works also saw competitive bidding, including her Swan Sconces (lot 36) which realized $28,125 against a presale estimate of $2,000-4,000. The designer’s Butterfly Cabinet (lot 34) also saw enthusiastic bidding and soared past its presale estimate of $2,000-4,000 to achieve $22,500. Her Snake Mirror (lot 35) sold for $11,875 more than triple its presale estimate.
Other auction highlights included Sam Maloof’s (lot 32) rocking chair which exceeded its presale estimate and realized $28,500, in addition to exciting results for artists Wendy Maruyama, David Secrest, and Peter Dudley.
Bidding for the March 23 sale was available via absentee bid, by phone, live online through the Digital Bid Room – Hindman’s recently launched online and mobile bidding platform – and three online bidding platforms. Hindman continues to invite consignments for upcoming 2021 Modern Design sales.
Featured image: Seven Days of the Week Dining Table and Ten Chairs, 1997. Wendell Castle. Price realized: $62,500