Meaghan Roddy's Top Picks from Modern Design | Art

Ahead of our Modern Design | Art auction on 24 October, we spoke to Design market advisor and curator, Meaghan Roddy, about her top picks coming under the hammer.

Based in Los Angeles, Meaghan is a Design market expert, independent curator and founder of the private advisory service Roddyshine. She has over two decades of experience working in modern and contemporary Design and decorative arts auctions, assisting both private collectors and institutions in building their collections.

Lot 197

Viola Frey (1933 - 2004)
Biography of a Civilization

I am going to start with the piece that I think is the most major thing I’ve seen by Viola Frey come to auction in years. The entire Viola Frey collection in this sale is insane, but this particular piece has me sweating with jealousy. It is so unusual to see this amount of figural detail in monochrome.

Of all of her ‘Civilization’ works–and it’s a theme she returned to for decades–this one, to me, feels the most striking because she is telling the story fully at the mercy of the clay, without any of the color she normally employs. There are so many classical decorative elements at play, too: the modeled leaves, the drapery of the tablecloth, and even having ceramics at the forefront of the story in miniature pitchers and bowls.

The exhibition history for this work is also exciting: this piece is from her first solo show in San Francisco. Especially in light of the contemporary art world more recently re-examining her important contributions to 20^th century art, this is a really significant work. 

Lot 188

Viola Frey (1933-2004)
Alameda Flea Market (Bowl)

I’m so used to seeing Frey's three-dimensional chargers with very cartoon-like imagery, so this piece was a surprise to me.

As a somewhat-new Californian who spent a lot of her life studying the great California ceramists and who would have given anything to have been at the Alameda flea market in the 1970s, I am loving this.

Stay updated with our auctions. Sign up to receive your weekly newsletter of global auctions, stories and more. Subscribe now

Lot 231

Michael (Born 1937) and Magdalena Frimkess (Born 1929)
We Love Luisa (Monumental Vessel)

This is an epic Frimkess. I can’t think of a better piece of theirs to own, actually.

Aside from having all the incredible imagery you could want, it’s dedicated to their daughter Luisa and has family provenance. If you’re not bidding on this, you are sleeping.

Lot 16

Handel (Established 1885)
Chipped Ice 'Parrot' Boudoir Lamp

This is real wildcard for me, but I am hoping that my husband is reading this and accepting this beautiful and rare opportunity of an explicit hint at what to buy for our anniversary.

Scott, I would very much like to own this lamp.

Register to bid in Modern Design | Art

Browse a selection of Handel and Tiffany Lamps, Viola Frey ceramics, and much more.
Register to bid before 24 October.

For the latest news and auction highlights, follow @bonhamsdesign on Instagram