Strauss & Co Salutes the Trailblazing Women of Modern Design

28 Aug 2026

CAPE TOWN – This Women’s Month, Strauss & Co would like to shine a light on the fearless and powerful female designers whose work passes through its doors. Despite history often placing men at the forefront, many of the objects we now consider the defining icons of Mid-century Modern were conceived or profoundly shaped by women.

Running from 18 August to 23 September, live and online, Mid-century Modern features some of the women who helped define 20th-century design. For Charlotte Perriand, Florence Knoll and Ray Eames (all represented in the auction), creating furniture for a new post-war way of living was only half the story; earning recognition in a male-dominated profession was the other.

A recurring thread in the work of many female Modernist designers is their holistic approach, in which form and function were inseparable from the psychology of space. Florence Knoll, to whom the Rosewood and Marble Wall-mounted Cabinet is attributed, approached furniture not as isolated objects but as part of an architectural and interior ecosystem, a philosophy that would help redefine the modern workplace and home.

Meanwhile, Ray (and Charles) Eames’ iconic DSW Chairs exemplify this human-centred approach, pairing ergonomic comfort with the playful colours and material innovation that characterised the post-war era. Likewise, the pair of LC1 Armchairs designed by Perriand, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret balance the industrial precision of chrome with the warmth and tactile quality of animal hide.

Glassware designers Helena Tynell and Anna Ehrner both explored the capabilities of mouth-blown glass, leaning into restrained form and fluid lines. Tynell’s Blue Glass Vase reveals an effortless silhouette that comes alive in rich colour, while Ehrner’s understated 111-piece Line Service for Kosta Boda demonstrates the quiet expressiveness of clear glass.

Drawing on Modernist silhouettes and uniquely local subject matter, ceramicist Elma Vestman helped establish a distinctly South African ceramic language on the international stage, proving that local craft traditions belonged within the global Modernist conversation. Meanwhile, Swedish ceramicist Lisa Larson breathed life and character into basic clay forms, her playful Africa series of figurines being a case in point. 

For many of the designers included in the Mid-century Modern sale, quiet simplicity and daily comfort won out over grand statements. Some of these include the Swedish silversmith Vivianna Torun and ceramicists Marianne Westman and Susan Williams-Ellis. Torun’s Open Bangle Watch for Georg Jensen showcases her penchant for low-key sophistication, while Williams-Ellis’ Totem Coffee and Tea Service infuses everyday tableware items with minimalist elegance.

From furniture and jewellery to glass and ceramics, these designers leave behind more than coveted collectables. Their work stands as a testament to creative courage and to the enduring power of design to shape the way we live. This Women’s Month, Strauss & Co celebrates the women whose vision continues to inspire — and whose legacy is only becoming more visible with time.