A unique Madrepore dining set by Gio Ponti and Pierro Fornasetti will headline a design auction at Wright in Chicago on March 27.

It carries an estimate of $70,000-90,000.

Pierro Fornasetti collaborated with Gio Ponti on the design of the dining set

Fornasetti (1913-1988) was an Italian artist and designer lauded for his boldly graphic works that often feature variations of the face of singer Lina Cavalieri (1874-1944).

From the 1940s onward he began to collaborate with architect and designer Gio Ponti (1891-1979) - perhaps best known for his work on the Pirelli Tower in Milan.

The dining set features lithographs of corals and sea creatures on lacquered wood and glass, all realised in Fornasetti's distinctive style.

Despite the enormous popularity of the brand, work from Fornasetti remains relatively affordable. A unique architettura trumeau cabinet holds the designer's auction record - selling for $230,000 in 1998.

A Salerno carpet by Barbro Nilsson (1899-1983) is valued at $50,000-70,000.

The Salerno carpet was created by Barbro Nilsson in 1946

Wilson was born in Sweden and worked within the field of textiles and rugs in particular. In the 1940s she took over the Marta Maas-Fjetterstrom workshop, the most prestigious maker of Scandinavian rugs, and was enormously successful in developing the firm's output.

A wall mounted cabinet by George Nakashima carries an identical estimate of $50,000-70,000.

It has been produced in the designer's trademark "free edge" style, where the natural shape and grain of the wood dictates the form of the furniture.

Check out our range of antiques here.

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