The Sotheby's auction titled Important 20th Century Design Including the Charles M. Pratt Desk and Chair by Greene & Greene, held on December 16, 2010, in New York, and featured a curated selection of 109 lots showcasing significant works from the American Arts & Crafts movement and early 20th-century design. The centerpiece of this auction was the Charles M. Pratt Desk and Chair, esteemed as the most important furniture pieces ever created by the architectural duo Greene & Greene.
Commissioned in 1908 for the Pratt House—also known as Casa Barranca—in Ojai, California, the desk and chair were masterfully crafted by the Greenes' trusted cabinetmaker, Peter Hall. These pieces exemplify the architects' mature style, characterized by harmonious proportions, refined lines, and intricate detailing. Notably, the desk features hand-carved bas-relief inlays depicting gnarled oak trees, inspired by the surrounding Ojai Valley landscape, and is further embellished with silver inlays on the drawer pulls. The accompanying chair complements the desk with matching craftsmanship and design motifs.
Prior to this auction, the desk and chair had been part of a distinguished private collection since 1985, when they set a then-record for Greene & Greene furniture at auction. In 2010, Sotheby's estimated the ensemble to fetch around $4 million, underscoring its significance and rarity in the realm of American decorative arts.
