Brook Mason on Artnet describes the sale of London antiques dealer Norman Adams’s stock after nearly a century in business. The 235-lot, £1.3 million sale takes place next week:

At the same time as the viewing and auction of its stock, Norman Adams is headlining a selling exhibition of contemporary furniture by British designers, also at Sotheby’s. Top of the tree among the works by 27 designers in the show is John Makepeace’s ripple ash dining table, which is being offered for £50,000. Across the board, most of the works average around £2,000-£5,000.

Makepeace is a pivotal English designer, whose furniture has long been favored by Chicago art patron John Bryan, chair of the fundraising efforts for the Art Institute of Chicago’s new modern wing, which opens May 15, 2009, as well as for Millennium Park nearby. Bryan’s vast decorative arts collection is housed at his Crab Tree Farm just outside the Windy City and includes key furniture by Makepeace.

Artnet Design (Artnet.com)