Henry van de Velde (1863-1957) helped define modern design, replacing historical revival with a language of line, structure, and function. A leading figure in Art Nouveau and German Jugendstil, he conceived objects as living forms, animated by continuous, flowing lines in which structure and ornament are inseparable. This three-piece tea set, with organically emerging handles carved with a beaded motif and lids with asymmetrical, incised flourishes, rests on a shaped tray whose attenuated arms carry a bead-and-reel edge.

A Rare Four-Piece Henry van de Velde Partial Gilt Silver Tea Set, circa 1905
Auction: May 22

Featuring cover art by Herb Trimpe, The Incredible Hulk No. 181 gave us the first full appearance of Wolverine, who quickly inserts himself into an all-out brawl between the Hulk and the savage Wendigo. Of the nearly 16,000 Universal grade copies (and almost 20,000 total) certified by CGC, less than 1 percent of them have a grade as high as this near-perfect copy, and only one of those has graded higher to date. The 1974 classic continues to hold the No. 2 spot on Overstreet’s list of Top 25 Bronze Age Comics.

The Incredible Hulk No. 181 (Marvel, 1974) CGC NM/MT 9.8
Auction: May 28

Painted in the early 1970s, Fleurs dates to Le Pho’s mature period, when the artist had fully developed the rich, decorative style that defines his late work. By this time, he was painting almost exclusively in oil on canvas, favoring a more fluid handling and a luminous surface that reflects the influence of French modernism while retaining the refinement of his Vietnamese academic training. In Fleurs, the floral still life dissolves into its surrounding space through soft, layered brushwork and a harmonious palette.

Le Pho Fleurs, 1973-4
Auction: June 5