20th Century Design

A+O was able to offer four individual collection in the one catalogue: Stephen Rainbow's collection of 1950s British Ceramics with the accent on Festival of Britain period Poole, well-known Auckland art dealer Gary Langsford's collection of fine Italian glass from the 50s to 80s Memphis period classics, The Thomas and Bettina Bley Collection - in essence an archive of important design milestones assembled by Bley, himself a former Memphis Group member and Michael Barrymore and Shaun Davis' Collection of Italian Glass. The result was a near survey exhibition of post WWII design and applied arts and a hearty response from New Zealand collectors, who in the main beat considerable number of international bidders to the punch.