20th Century Decorative Arts & Design

The Art & Design auction showcases the best of 20th century art and design and contemporary artists’ work.

Our specialist Art & Design department hosts three decorative arts auctions annually, showcasing key artists, designers and makers from the Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau movements of the 19th century through Mid-Century design and the best of the contemporary market. 

 

Whether you are looking for Art Deco auctions or more contemporary and modern art for sale, our auctions regularly feature many of the ‘greats’ of the last century, including the likes of Charles & Ray Eames, Gimson and the Barnsleys, Le Cobusier, Heal’s, Philippe Starck, Henry Moore, Louis Vuitton, Moorcroft, Lenci, Clarice Cliff, Lucie Rie, Hans Coper and more.

 

 

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Sale Highlights

View a selection of items sold at recent Cheffins Fine Art auctions.

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Our expert

Martin Millard 

BA (Hons) ASFAV

Director

FINE ART

01223 271893

07812 171191

[email protected]

News

Fitzwilliam Museum acquires early drawing by Thomas Gainsborough
Tastemaker puts homeware under the hammer in aid of Toiletries Amnesty
Newly discovered portrait of unknown naval officer by Sir Henry Raeburn sells for £80,000
Interior designer reveals the colours which took her Georgian home from drab to fab
 Early Gainsborough drawing to go under the hammer for the first time in over 80 years
TRENDSPOTTER – Rare Minton Majolica Fountain set to make waves at the Fine Sale
TRENDSPOTTER – The Antiques that Gen Z and Millennials are buying now
Forgotten Hampstead artist rediscovered as Muriel Jackson archive sells out
TRENDSPOTTER – The Muriel Jackson Archive
 Horace Walpole brands Versailles ‘tawdry and childish’ in letter sold for £8,000
Archive of Scottish Photographer Joseph McKenzie to go under the hammer
Jewellery, Silver & Watches Auction at Cheffins fetches nearly £600,000
TRENDSPOTTER: Why now is not the time to sell the family silver
TRENDSPOTTER – Top of the lots!
The Racehorse in Art

22/04/2026    

The Racehorse in Art

Jewellery Editor, Jessica Diamond, reveals why buying jewellery at auction is trending
International artist’s private library to headline at Cheffins auction
Leading hospital charity celebrates another world first – by bringing panda sculptures to Cambridge
Rare 1738 Matthew Buchinger drawing heads to auction
TRENDSPOTTER - Antique Lighting
TRENDSPOTTER - Dogs in Art

11/03/2026    

TRENDSPOTTER - Dogs in Art

TRENDSPOTTER – Castle Hedingham Pottery
Saturday Success: A new chapter for Cheffins Interiors Sales
Original design from Duke of Wellington’s funeral carriage to be sold
TRENDSPOTTER: Wuthering Heights and the Film Effect
Cheffins' bicentenary fundraising surpasses £270,000
Rare Rembrandt counterproof of “The Goldweigher” achieves £22,100
Burmese sapphire ring sells for five times its estimate at Cheffins
Rare Rembrandt counterproof to go under the hammer at Cheffins Fine Sale
Trendspotter: Pink Diamonds

18/11/2025    

Trendspotter: Pink Diamonds

Trendspotter: Tudor portrait with a fascinating backstory
Cheffins 200-Year Anniversary Charity Auction
Cheffins to offer important Southwick Hall Collection
A Tribute to British Farming: Rare Tunnicliffe Drawings go to Auction
Farmer or Fraudster? Bid to be a character in Jeffrey Archer’s Final Novel
Dali painting bought for £150 achieves £45,700 at Cheffins in Cambridge
Trendspotter – Modern British Silver
Trendspotter – Murano Glass
A Remarkable Rediscovery: Salvador Dalí’s Vecchio Sultano
Duncan Grant study to go under the hammer at Cheffins
Salvador Dali painting to headline Cheffins blockbuster Art & Design
New world record for portrait by Rosalba Carriera at Cheffins in Cambridge
Meet the Collector: Katherine Mann of Histon Manor
Trendspotter - Nicolas Martineau's top picks for The Fine Sale
Fresh-to-market painting by Rosalba Carriera comes to auction
Collection of Terance James Bond works to go under the hammer at Cheffins
Buyers out in force at Cheffins summer Jewellery, Silver & Watches Sale
TRENDSPOTTER: Fay picks her top of the lots
TRENDSPOTTER: How to sell your jewellery – and get the best price
Silverware directly from the table of the notorious ‘Ladies of Llangollen’ to go under the hammer
Cheffins teams up with Addenbrooke’s Hospital Clinical Staff
Salvador Dali painting discovered at Cambridge house clearance
TRENDSPOTTER: Jasperware

22/07/2025    

TRENDSPOTTER: Jasperware

TRENDSPOTTER: Collecting Autographs
TRENDSPOTTER – HRH Duke of Gloucester gets a taste of Cheffins Fine Art Department
TRENDSPOTTER: Affordable Art
Cheffins Affordable Art Sale now live
Tirzah Garwood archive sells for £54,000 at Cheffins in Cambridge
Annabelle Campbell, Director of David Parr House, gives her top selections of the Art & Design Sale
Natural saltwater pearl necklace triples pre-sale estimate
Major archive of Tirzah Garwood works to come to auction
The Dirty Dozen

23/04/2025    

The Dirty Dozen

Cheffins sponsors Norfolk Churches Trust Stately Car Boot Sale
Fay’s top lots

23/04/2025    

Fay’s top lots

Cheffins first Jewellery, Silver & Watches Sale sees one of the highest silver consignments to date
Gainsborough’s House - the largest collection of Cedric Morris works in the country
Trendspotter - 18th century portraiture
Nicolas Martineau's top picks from The Fine Sale
Trendspotter - Gemstone certificates
Cheffins celebrates 200-year anniversary by pledging £200,000 for charity
Cedric Morris painting sells for £162,500 at Cheffins in Cambridge
Trendspotter – Indian topographical views
Trendspotter – Pierre Jeanneret for Chandigarh
Never-before-seen work by Cedric Morris to be auctioned at Cheffins
Top of the Lots

20/02/2025    

Top of the Lots

Highlights of 2024 - Fine Sales
Highlights of 2024 - Jewellery, Silver and Watches
Highlights of 2024 - Old Master and 19th Century pictures
Highlights of 2024 - Art & Design Sales
Record breaking sale for Cheffins as rare Kashmir sapphire achieves £260,000
Trendspotter – exploring the most sought-after sapphires in the world
Trendspotter - Fine Sale Top Picks
A tribute to Frank Auerbach (29 April 1921 – 11 November 2024)
Trendspotter – female artists set records at Cheffins' Art & Design sale
Rare gems and unique timepieces at Cheffins’ Jewellery, Silver and Watches sale
Competitive bidding sees record prices being achieved at Cheffins’ Art & Design sale
Trendspotter - The desire and value of original packaging
Trendspotter – The emergence of Indian Art
Trendspotter – esteemed collections from influential figures in the arts
Undiscovered treasures and an eclectic mix of over 700 lots in Cheffins’ Art & Design sale
Escape into a book at Cheffins Library Sale
Rare Adelaide Huret doll fetches £16,000 at Cheffins auction
A collection of Huntingdonshire views go under the hammer at Cheffins Fine Sale
Trendspotter: The captive charm of explorer memorabilia
Trendspotter – the increasing appeal of coloured gemstones
Trendspotter: Olympics memorabilia
Trendspotter – The rising popularity of trilogy rings
Trendspotter: The enduring appeal of still life paintings
Cheffins sees a packed auction room as Eve Clarke collection goes under the hammer
The Eve Clarke Collection

12/07/2024    

The Eve Clarke Collection