Modernism Week is set to launch its highly anticipated online bidding event, the “Best of Modernism – Holiday Edition” Auction, offering design enthusiasts a chance to acquire unique items and experiences just in time for the giving season. Running for eight days from December 6 through December 14, 2025, the auction will feature over 100 distinct lots, ranging from exclusive architectural adventures to rare midcentury collectibles.
A Record-Breaking Collection Now in its fifth year, organizers promise this will be the largest and most exciting auction in the event’s history. Mark Davis, Modernism Week’s Lecture, Travel and Auction Producer, noted that modernists have come to appreciate the auction for its access to products and places unavailable elsewhere.
“We have secured a record number of very exciting items and experiences, including some truly exceptional architectural surprises. There is something for everyone in every price range, including those hard-to-please Modernists on your holiday shopping list,” says Davis.
Auction Highlights: Exclusive Experiences This year’s catalog features once-in-a-lifetime travel and architectural opportunities, including:
- Private Fallingwater Experience: A rare twilight tour for four of Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1935 masterpiece, including a cocktail reception, a catered terrace dinner, and an overnight stay in historic on-site accommodations.
- Frank Lloyd Wright House Stay: A two-night weekend for two couples in a privately owned 1958 Wright home, complete with original furnishings and a catered dinner.
- VIP Modernism Week Package: A deluxe four-night stay at the Kimpton Rowan Hotel during Opening Weekend, including tickets to the Opening Night Party, the Sinatra Estate party, a double-decker bus tour, and more.
- International Travel:
- London: A tour of Hampstead in a vintage 1934 Bentley followed by a private tour of the Isokon Gallery and Penthouse.
- Wimbledon: A private tour and dinner at the famed Wimbledon Glass House (22 Parkside), designed by Richard Rogers.
- Mexico City: A two-night stay at the luxurious Casa Polanco.
- Florida: A seven-night stay in the restored 1956 Gene Leedy home in Winter Haven.
Rare Collectibles and Design Decor Beyond travel, the auction offers a curated selection of physical items perfect for collectors:
- Fine Art & Photography: Original signed Julius Shulman prints (including the Grace Miller and Kramer Houses) and works by artists such as Shag, Pedro Ramíris Vásquez, and Yaacov Agam.
- Decor: An Edward Fields 9 × 9 carpet in Raymond Loewy’s “Picnic Blanket” design and a 10-foot “Modern Christmas Tree.”
- Vintage Finds: A midcentury Bakelite Mahjong set, 1970s brutalist bronze jewelry, and a collection of Scandinavian and Italian glass.
- Holiday Ornaments: Rare pieces from Alessi, Higgins Glass, Paul Smith, and Trina Turk.
- Books: Signed and out-of-print volumes covering icons like Richard Neutra, David Bowie, Frida Kahlo, and the Bauhaus movement.
How to Participate Bidding begins on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 12:00 pm PST and concludes on Sunday, December 14 at 12:00 noon PST. Interested parties can create an account and view the catalog at modernismweek.com. Winners will be notified shortly after the auction closes.
Supporting a Good Cause Proceeds from the auction benefit Modernism Week, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The funds support scholarships for local Palm Springs students pursuing architecture and design degrees, as well as grants for organizations preserving modernist architecture across California.