Frank Gehry’s Iconic Icehenge Desk Surfaces for Auction

A substantial and artistic office desk designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry is now available for purchase at auction, with estimates suggesting it could command a price of up to $200,000. The “Icehenge Desk,” a unique piece of architectural furniture, has been a notable fixture in the lobby of Chicago’s Inland Steel Building since 2013, serving as its security desk.

The auction, managed by Freeman’s, has set a starting bid of $50,000 for the desk, which is described by the auction house as being in “good overall condition” with no significant structural issues.

A Sculptural Masterpiece

The “Icehenge Desk” derives its name from its striking visual resemblance to ice chiseled from a glacier, complete with coarse, chiseled edges. This aesthetic aligns with other sculptural works by Gehry, such as the crystal decanter he designed for Hennessy in collaboration with Baccarat.

Weighing an impressive 15,000 pounds, the desk is not a single monolithic structure but is ingeniously composed of 16 reconfigurable parts. These components are carved from blocks of emerald glass, lending the piece a distinctive greenish hue. The fabrication of this ambitious design was undertaken by John Lewis Glass Studio, based in Oakland, California.

Gehry’s Relationship with the Inland Steel Building

The Inland Steel Building itself is a significant modernist landmark, originally completed in 1958 and designed by the renowned firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). Frank Gehry’s connection to the building deepened when he became a part-owner in 2005. SOM later undertook a renovation of the building in 2010.

The genesis of the “Icehenge Desk” reportedly stemmed from an encounter Gehry had with a piece of scrap glass while working on another project. Its installation in the Inland Steel Building’s lobby in 2013 was met with critical observation. Blair Kamin, writing for the Chicago Tribune at the time, described the U-shaped desk as “a piece of furniture that’s been elevated to the level of art, or is simply an emblem of excess.”

Gehry’s Legacy in Furniture Design

While Gehry is globally celebrated for his architectural achievements, his contributions to furniture design are also noteworthy. Among his most recognized furniture pieces are the “Gehry Wiggle Chair” and “Gehry Wiggle Stool,” both designed in 1972. He later expanded his furniture portfolio with a series of bent-laminated maple chairs produced for Knoll.

More recently, in 2024, Gehry designed a bespoke decanter for Hennessy. These limited-edition decanters were reportedly sold for approximately $150,000 each, a price point comparable to the expected sale price of the “Icehenge Desk.”

Key facts

The surfacing of the “Icehenge Desk” for auction presents a unique opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts of design and architecture to acquire a significant piece from a seminal architect. It highlights Gehry’s ability to translate his distinct sculptural vision into functional, albeit monumental, objects, blurring the lines between furniture, art, and architecture. The desk’s substantial weight and modular construction speak to its ambition as a piece of both design and engineering.

Source: The Architect’s Newspaper, https://www.archpaper.com/2026/07/icehenge-desk-frank-gehry/