Christie's June 2025 design sales totaled $23.6 million across two auctions, led by the 'American Avant-Garde: The James D. Zellerbach Residence by Frances Elkins' single-owner sale ($8.1 million) and the broader Design sale ($15.4 million). The top lot was the Goddard Memorial Window by Tiffany Studios, which sold for $4.285 million with fees to an online bidder, marking the second-highest price ever for a Tiffany Studios work. Other highlights included two Alberto Giacometti bird sculptures selling for nearly $2.9 million each, a Claude Lalanne chandelier at $1.865 million, and her sculpture 'L'Enlèvement d'Europe' at $1.134 million.
The results underscore the resilience of the design category in a sluggish auction market, appealing to a broad range of collectors beyond traditional niches. The strong prices for rare, high-quality works—especially Tiffany Studios stained glass, which has seen recent institutional acquisitions by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Crystal Bridges Museum—signal sustained demand. Industry observers note a shift toward a more thoughtful, deliberate market, with buyers taking their time, as reflected in the competitive bidding and solid outcomes.