Paul Cocksedge’s Top Picks

Known for pushing the boundaries of materials and technology, Paul Cocksedge has created a wide range of projects that blend art, design and engineering. His work is characterised by its innovative use of materials and light, resulting in designs that are both visually stunning and conceptually rich. His installations have been featured in major cultural institutions and public spaces worldwide. A unique work from "Squeeze" mirror collection, to be showcased at Carpenters Workshop Gallery Paris, for Design Miami.Paris, will also be on view at Bonhams New Bond Street alongside the Design auction preview from the 21-23 October.

Ahead of our Design & Contemporary Ceramics auction, we asked Paul Cocksedge to pick his top five items going under the hammer.

Lot 15

Olafur Eliasson

This piece plays beautifully with light, reflecting and tricking the eye. At first, I thought I was looking at an incredible surface of woven glass. Then I realised it was this intricately woven texture interacting with light and reflection, creating a sense of fluidity. I thought of light, water, and the fragility and balance of nature. As someone who explores these properties in my own work, it really drew me in.

Lot 160

Arne Jacobsen

My eyes kept tracing, following the curves—it’s almost like looking at an infinite line, with no beginning, no end, and no straight lines. It was delightful to look at—soft, organic, and seemingly comfortable. It’s clearly designed for the body and looks like it’s been inspired by it. I can’t believe it was created over half a century ago; it looks like it could have been designed today. There’s something about its materiality. The worn leather reminds me of bronze or patinated steel, yet I know it’s soft. What truly stands out is its organic, seamless shape. If you were to turn it upright, it could easily sit in a sculpture park. There’s something incredibly satisfying, smooth, comfortable, and sensuous about it.

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Lot 176

Alvar Aalto

This monolithic block of timber feels timeless to me. There’s a clear practicality—the way it extends to accommodate more but neatly compacts when not needed. You can picture the social aspect, people gathering around it, and the atmosphere that creates. It shows a deep understanding of how people live and the importance of a table as both a functional and social object. The table is truly timeless in that sense. But what really grabs me is the H-leg. Many might overlook it, but for someone who appreciates details, it’s crucial. It’s a piece of engineering that provides strength and stability, almost like an I-beam in architecture. Yet here, it softens the design. If it were a cylinder, the table might feel heavy, but the organic curves of the H-leg lift the whole design. It almost makes the table feel like it’s floating.

Lot 154

Greta von Nessen

I love the name, the Anywhere Light. It’s playful, direct, and perfectly hints at its multifunctionality. There’s a joyfulness and simplicity to it. For me, it captures everything a lamp like this should be—it adapts to your home and provides light exactly how you need it. You can clip it onto a wall or place it on a table. It’s lightweight, and there’s something undeniably joyful about it. The fact that it was designed in the 1950s, yet still feels relevant and usable today, is brilliant. As someone who has studied and worked with light extensively, I love that you can’t see the source—it’s all reflected. On a wall, it bounces light back at you; on a table, it reflects off the surface. It’s such a simple yet clever design.

Lot 94

Edmund De Waal

With so much of today being a bombardment of visual overload and technology constantly pushing us to process more information, when I first saw this ceramic piece, it felt like a pause—a breath out, a sense of calm. When everything is stripped back, when you try to remove all the noise, what you're left with is the essence of materiality: the ceramic, the white, the texture. Achieving that level of simplicity takes real confidence, but it’s also incredibly difficult. Not many people can pull it off. This piece is both sculptural and delicate, and you can sense the dedication and experimentation that went into finding the perfect glaze, the right white. These things aren’t easy to master. There’s a balance here between form, texture, and glaze that feels both functional and sculptural. It’s refined, but not in a way that feels overworked—just pure and essential.

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Design & Contemporary Ceramics auction

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