Mid 20th Century Furniture
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Collecting Design: Sebastian and Barquet
Sebastian & Barquet are Design Dealers who are quite well known for focusing on and bringing back to the public eye the impressive work of renowned artists such as Buckminster Fuller, Charlotte Perriand, George Nakashima, Gio Ponti, Isamu Noguchi, Johnny Swing, Paul Evans, Joe Colombo, Vladimir Kagan, Le Corbusier and others. The gallery, located in the trendy high line district of Manhattan, offers an impressive collection of 20th Century Design.
A client of mine was interested in their 1984 Michelle de Lucchi’s sidetables, so I took a trip there a few months ago, only to find that not only did they carry this important piece, the gallery was a temple of design savoir faire. We were impressed with their Carlo Bugatti’s collection which was featured on its own special section. This artist’s work was beautifully curated so that one can truly appreciate the furniture and art in their true sense and form. I noticed that some of Buggatti’s art work consisted of inlaid bronze and pewter, materials which I am drawn to since they offer such a striking finish. The main gallery is a mecca for collecting great design. They have an excellent collection from one of my favorite artist, Prouvé. I’ve always emphasize to you, dear readers, the importance of an artist like Jean Prouvé. He was a brilliant creator and a totally committed citizen, craftsman, workman, industrial constructor, architect, and designer. If you are serious about collecting, this is one of the trusted dealers that are worth your time and resources because of their expertise and commitment in their respective specialities.
Gio Ponti, a rare and important secretaire and chair, circa 1930
Sofa and chair by Vladimir Kagan
George Nakashima Walnut dining room table and chairs. Background painting from Julio Galan,The Black Pear, 1990
From Left: Charlotte Perriand, Sconce Collection – Set of 12 from the Galerie Steph Simon, France, circa 1962. A Gio Ponti armchair from the Hotel Parco dei Principi, Rome, circa 1964. Right: Le Corbusier, a partially painted wood wardrobe/room divider, 1949
Ko and Luisa Parisi Sof, circa 1946, and Guilermo Ulrich, Grand Console. corca 1940, in the background
Photos courtesy High End Weekly™ -
1stDibs’ 20th Century Art & Design Fair
Top 20th Century 1stDibs Dealers sign on for inaugural edition of the New York 20th Century Art and Design Fair on April 12 – 15, 2012. The event is to be held at the tent at Lincoln Center in Damrosch Park and presented by Dolphin Promotions
Many of the leading names in the field of 20th Century design will showcase a cross-section of iconic material including furniture, lighting, sculpture, paintings, jewelry, silver, glass, ceramics, photography, textiles, prints, vintage clothing and accessories. Among the participants from the United States are: Bridges Over Time; Camilla Dietz BergeronLtd.; Christopher Anthony; Collage-20th Century Classics; Donzella; Downtown; Dragonette Ltd.; Fat Chance; Framont Fine Art; Good Design; Joyce Groussman; Katy Kane Vintage & Couture Clothing; Le Lampade; Lillian Nassau LLC; Liz O’Brien; Lobel Modern; Mark McDonald; Modernism Gallery; Neil Marrs; R 20thCentury; Reform; Sally Rosen 20th Century Collections; Steve Newman Fine Arts; The Silver Fund; Todd Merrill & Associates; Vojtech Blau, Trinity House and Caira Mandaglio.
An early-buying preview party benefiting the Bard Graduate Center: Decorative Arts, Design History, Material Culture will be held on Thursday evening, April 12, and is expected to draw serious collectors, designers, investors, and museum curators. The show opens to the public from Friday, April 13 through Sunday, April 15. The venue at Lincoln Center, located at West 62nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues in the fashionable and easily accessible Upper Wide Side neighborhood of New York, is a gorgeous climate-controlled tent with hard walls and flooring. It is one of the largest event sites in Manhattan and has become an established location for some of the city’s most celebrated events, including the American Ballet Theatre Gala, New York Philharmonic Gala, and HBO’s Sex in the City party.Further details regarding the preview gala, lecture series, and special guests will be announced soon. For more information, please visit NYC20.net or contact Dolphin Promotions at (708) 366-2710 or (954) 563-6747. -
Industrial Clocks by George Nelson
He was widely known as one of the founding fathers of American modernism, who was also admired as the creator of beautiful and practical things. As an interior designer, I appreciate the aesthetics of George Nelson’s designs, and make use of them whenever the project calls for it. Yes, I’m much enthused with his industrial clock designs, but do not want to over look his architectural contribution; his iconic furniture designs, like the 1956 kangaroo chair, his sling sofa and coffee table, and of course, his ever more popular steel legged chairs. A room with a view: The George Nelson retro modern chairs (circa 1956)are a perfect compliments to his industrial clocks. Photo via ArchzineThe settees, the bedroom pieces he designed while working with the Herman Miller company in the 1940s will forever remain in the archives as a notification of what great design really signifies. George Nelson was an amazing industrial designer with a vision that left an imprint and is still carried out by today’s top 21st Century Product Designers.
Futuristic!George Nelson’s Clocknik Table Clock
Message in a bottleGeorge Nelson Design for Herman Miller Clock Company, circa 1950
Round and Around We GoTop: Re-issued by Vitra, The Wheel, circa the 1950s, or 1960s. Right: Ball Clock, circa 1964Bottom: Tripod Clock, circa 1947. Right: An extremely rare Vintage George Nelson ClockSpoonfedGeorge Nelson Spoon Pendulum ClockForward to a new Modernism
The EssensialsTop: George Nelson: Architect / Writer / Designer / Teacher/ Full color, extensively illustrated, this book from the Vitra Design Museum is a fitting tribute to this seminal figure. With eight essays by German and American design historians, the publication deals with all of the areas of his work, many of which are presented here for the first time. Bottom: Building a New Europe: Portraits of Modern Architects (Yale School of Architecture) covers a series of articles from the 1930s, as Nelson eloquently introduced astonishing buildings and fascinating personalities from across the Atlantic to wider American audiences.NOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post are alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you. -
Industrial Elements in Interiors
Industrial elements recall the 19th century, the era of the Eiffel Tour and advancements in technology that seem antiquated today but were cutting edge for the time.Hello everyone, I’m Susi and I write as a guest blogger for Design Shuffle, a fabulous social media site that promotes interior designers and their work from around the world. My writing focuses on things I’m passionate about: interior design, decorating ideas, home furnishings, gardening, travel and art. I get to look at gorgeous things all day and write about them. I’m a very lucky girl!Tete de LitviaI am thrilled to be invited to write about industrial elements in interiors for High End Weekly™. This is one of my obsessions. And I’m apparently not the only one. The current obsession with all things vintage industrial might have its roots in the Steam Punk movement, which focuses on Victorian era industrial, exploration, and scientific style. Or perhaps it is the result of the current focus on handcrafted and homemade. Industrial style certainly recalls a bygone era.
Decorology viaIndustrial elements include tables with metal bases, industrial style lighting, filing cabinets, glass front cabinets, metal stools, bins, boxes and trays. Glass scientific bottles and cloches can be incorporatedwith other industrial elements for a scientific spin.
Emmas Designblog viaIf you think you haven’t seen industrial design before, look at the current trends in kitchen design. Professional stainless steel ranges, vent hoods, refrigerators and sinks get their designs from commercial kitchens.
vtwonen viaIndustrial architectural salvage can be decorative or repurposed. As an integral part of this bathroom’s design, the shower enclosure is made from salvaged factory windows. Gorgeous!
Pinterest viaIndustrial chic works well in urban loft environments. Makes sense as many of these lofts are located in former factory buildings. Architectural salvage combined with wood and metal furniture creates an industrial style in this open space.
Anyone, Girl viaLighting and accessories are perfect elements of industrial style to incorporate into your interior. Industrial lighting, like this jeweler’s lamp, has great style and is very functional. Small objects and curiosities like cogsmake for interesting desk ornaments.
Wisteria viaVintage or new metal draftsman stools can work in a number of kitchen designs, from contemporary to farmhouse. If you can’t find vintage industrial pieces, a number of big name retailers carry copies.
Restoration HardwareThe newly revamped Restoration Hardware has embraced industrial design, Victorian influenced Steam Punk and a bygone elegance. This content is provided by Design Shuffle, where you can find and share talented interior designs from from New York interior designers, Los Angeles interior designers, and more, check out the latest at Design Shuffle.NOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post are alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you.You May Also Like
When Punk Meets High Fashion
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Jean Prouvé’s Industrial Furniture
French metal worker, Jean Prouvé was a self-taught architect and designer who would most likely always be remembered for his influence in the development of the idea of nomadic architecture, likening a chair to a house, and designing both with portability in mind.Above all, his main achievement was the ability to transfer manufacturing technology from industry to architecture, without losing aesthetic qualities. It’s also worth mentioning that he was an outstanding designer with many talents. From architectural design, industrial design, structural design right down to furniture design.* Don’t forget to participate in our End of Summer Giveaways, listed here on High End Weekly™.
One of a kind cradle by Jean Prouvé, 1936
In VoguePopular Jean Prouvé Standard Chair Vitra (picture provided by nova68.com)
Jean Prouvé: Visiteur Lounge Chair(picture provided by wright20.com)
Jean Prouvé Compass deskAteliers Jean Prouvé
Jean Prouvé table
Jean Prouvé Coffee Table, 1944
Jean Prouvé: Objects and Furniture Design By Architects
NOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post are alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you. -
From Bauhaus to Our House
For me, the Bauhaus Movement has long been a fascinating, as well as a revolutionary one. Image what was going through most people’s minds when they first came across this minimalist aesthetic after being accustomed to a variety of ornate architecture and furniture designs. It must have been quite a shock! I wrote this article, nearly 10 years ago when I attended Parsons, and occasionally found myself referring back to it, either for design ideas or simply just because…
Oskar Schlemmer. Bauhaus Stairway. 1932. Oil on canvas
The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of Philip Johnson.
© 2009 Estate of Oskar Schlemmer, Munich/Germany“The greater the chaos in the outside world, the more people seek clarity, peace and order at home.” These words were uttered by Wolfgang von Wersin in connection with the fact that after the First World War, German designers found themselves excluded on political grounds from the progress in the decorative and applied arts in Europe, and there were no longer wealthy clients abound wanting to have their villas built and furnished in luxury. In 1919, an attempt to rectify these new challenges fell in the direction of a man by the name of Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus Movement.
Bauhaus Master House
Marcel Breuer Tubular’s Stell Chair, 1926Backtracking a bit, one could see how this stunning innovation took further roots. Weimar, Germany was once a prominent literary city but fell out of grace in the 19th Century due to a virtual insignificance, and the beginning of cultural renaissance, and was brought forth by the design of the Nietzsche Archive in 1903 by the architect and designer, Henry van de Velde. Van de Velve had made his name in his native Belgium in the 1890s. He had spent some time in Paris, where the art dealer, Samuel Bing sought unsuccessfully to promote his talents in his gallery La maison de L’Art Nouveau, which also showed the work of other prominent designers of that time, and then moved to Berlin in 1900.
Walter Gropius’ house in MassachusettsIn 1902, a Count Kessler, one of the most influential patrons of the Jugendstil (German Art Nouveau) invited van de Velde to Weimar as principal of the Grand Duchy of Saxony’s new School of Applied Arts. He intended for this little regional capital to follow the Darmstadt model and become a center of progressive German art. Van de Velde indeed brought a breath of fresh air into the little town stultified by conservative historicism. He began by setting up craft workshops, assisting them financially with the proceeds from his many private commissions; and by placing his furniture orders with local artisans, such as the Scheidemantel firm, he helped them to achieve an undreamed-of prosperity. It was van de Velde who, in 1915, suggested that Walter Gropius should establish a school providing artistic guidance for industry, trade and craft.This institution eventually materialized as the Bauhaus, which was to be responsible for one of the most important chapters in the international history of design in the 20th Century. At the Bauhaus institution, Mr. Gropius’ students were none others than the greatest painters, graphic designers and architects of his day. The institution also contained a carpenter’s workshop, a metal workshop, a pottery, and facilities for paining on glass, mural painting, weaving, printing, wood and stone sculpting. The Bauhaus institute flourished under such great artists, but it also generated a radical set of ideas. What exactly were those ideas?Well, the school aimed at dictating function alone and encouraged its students to work cooperatively and combine all of their skills. There was no justification for decorative features, unless they were traditionally associated with a particular material or their application facilitated the production process and therefore fitted a practical purpose. At the Bauhaus, Marcel Breuer and Mies van der Rohe produced some of the canons of modern furniture design – most notable in Breuer’s tubular steel chair, which became an icon of 20th Century design.In was Walter Gropius himself who said, “The Bauhaus believes the machine to be our modern medium of design and seeks to come to terms with it.” When one look at the interior of a Bauhaus building, one would see that an emphasis was placed on factory-produced designs that were simple, functional, and industrial. The egalitarian philosophy espoused by the school embraced clean designs in basic materials, and this philosophy permeated all types of design, from furniture to textiles to applied art.Alas, not all were in favor of these new ideas. Stark white washed walls were perceived by some as “operating theater”; and some people at the time felt that they were entitled to art as well, and preferred the styles of the past.Recommended Reading: Bauhaus 1919-1933 by Magdalena DrosteBauhaus by Jeannine FielderDesign and Form: The Basic course at the Bauhaus by Johannes IttenNOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post are alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you.
