MAD Deaccessions: Museum of Arts and Design's Disposals at Bonhams

Wharton Esherick cherrywood table, consigned by Museum of Arts and Design to be sold Dec. 10 at Bonhams
 
While the Museum of Arts and Design was loudly trumpeting the opening of its new facility on Columbus Circle, it was also quietly planning the sale of objects from its collection---not at Sotheby's or Christie's, but at the more under-the-radar, British-based Bonhams. My request for more details from Bonhams and MAD are still unanswered, but here's what appeared in the auction house's announcement of the Dec. 10 sale, to be held by its New York branch:

Property from the Museum of Arts and Design, the country's leading cultural institution dedicated to exploring the creative processes of contemporary artists and designers from around the world, presents an opportunity for collectors and other institutional curators to own works from their collection---property offered to benefit future acquisitions at the museum.

This superb selection includes furniture and decorative arts by many notable artists. Offered will be a fine Wharton Esherick cherrywood table (est. $20/30,000) and a handsome Wendell Castle Plaintain coffee table (est. $8/12,000). A selection of wood vessels by Ed Moulthrop, Bob Stocksdale, Mark Lindquist, and Ron Kent will also be presented. A rare Louise Bourgeois porcelain sculpture produced by Sevres and titled "Fallen Women" could bring as much as $5,000. The museum property is rounded out by an exciting collection of contemporary sculptures by Czechoslovakian glass artists Bretislav Novak, Rene Rubicek, Jaroslav Svoboda, and Dana Zamecnikova.

In response to my query for more details, Bonhams spokesperson Staci Smith wrote: "I just found that the department is actually still in the process of cataloguing, so unfortunately I'm unable to provide a full list of items and catalogue descriptions at the moment. I'll have a better idea of everything when they're in the final stages, which will be a few weeks from now."

I am still awaiting information from MAD on the list of lots and the rationale for putting them on the block, which I had requested from the museum on Friday. So far, they've just sent me this statement from the director, Holly Hotchner:

In anticipation of our move to our new location at Columbus Circle, we
have been able to significantly upgrade our collection both in breadth
and depth. The de-accessioning of certain works has allowed the Museum
to make a major advancement in terms of the quality of the collection.

Perhaps they'd prefer not to have publicity about their new acquisitions commingled with publicity about their new deaccessions.