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Written by Karla Klein Albertson
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Surrealistic Modernism for a fortunate few
Born in Turin, Italy, Carlo Mollino (1905-1973) was an exceptional architect and designer whose work has been rewarded with extraordinary attention from the collecting world. Two years ago, a glass-topped table made by Mollino in 1949 was sold in New York for $3,824,000, setting a world auction record for a piece of 20th-century furniture. The table combined rarity of form and exceptional condition, and came from the distinguished contemporary art collection of Dakis Joannou.
In light of the fact that this price more than doubled the previous record, Christie’s 20th Century Design department commented at the time of the sale: “Mollino is one of a handful of highly revered designers whose production was relatively limited, and whose pieces inspire a great respect among collectors. This table is an outstanding example of his work, combining visual surprise, great rarity and a fully documented provenance. It has survived in excellent condition. These factors combined to ignite passionate competitive bidding for this iconic masterwork, and produced this exemplary result.”
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Written by Eileen Smith
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An appreciation for nature and Nakashima
George Nakashima was an interpreter of trees, listening to the voice of nature and translating wood and bark into timeless furniture.
That’s part of the allure of Nakashima (1905-1990), the iconic artisan whose sinuous, realistic studies attract a growing crop of admirers. |
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Written by Tom Hoepf
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Furniture exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum comes loaded with options
A TV commercial for Cadillac automobiles asks, “When you turn your car on, does it return the favor?” Just as most car buyers today would prefer a state of the art luxury sedan to the staid Model T, visitors to the Henry Ford, the renowned museum established by namesake automaker Henry Ford in Dearborn, Mich., often pass over antique furniture for newer, more streamlined exhibits. |
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Written by Eileen Smith
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An extraordinary collector of modernist chairs
For years, Jeanne Rymer taught aspiring designers to create livable interiors, spaces that encourage visitors to “sit a spell.”
Eventually, that appreciation for seating prompted Rymer to do what decorators are trained to avoid – transform her home into a museum, in this case one devoted entirely to modernist chairs.
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Written by Eileen Smith
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Stripping away the nonessentials, Charles Eames charted a new course for American design with his now-classic lounge chair
One hundred years after his birth, Charles Eames has earned a seat of honor in American design.
Countless school children pulled up his colorful Fiberglas and plastic chairs to the cafeteria table at lunchtime. The harried dad of the cartoon terror Dennis the Menace took refuge in his Eames lounge chair and ottoman. On the TV sitcom Frasier, the worldly psychiatrist also took his ease in a lounger, an elegant counterpoint to his father’s shabby recliner.
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