FATHER OF DANISH MODERNISM *** 50TH POST ***

Reputed by many as the father of Danish Modernism, Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971) received international acclaim particularly for his distinctive chairs. Perhaps most recognized is his Series 7 design which along with the Swan was designed for the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen in 1955. The Series 7 design by the way is estimated to have sold more than 5 million copies. Exemplar of Danish Modernism, Jacobsen is also remembered for his architectural works which include St Catherine’s College – Oxford, SAS Air Terminal & Radisson SAS Royal Hotel – Copenhagen, Sterling House – Copenhagen, Bellavista housing project – Klampenborg, and Royal Danish Embassy - London. Jacobsen’s other contribution to pop culture was his flatware design with its right and left-handed spoons. The service collection was selected for the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey due to its futuristic appearance. Most AJ furniture designs are still produced by Fritz Hansen and lighting designs by Louis Poulsen. Vintage selections can be sourced on 1stdibs.

related links:
www.fritzhansen.com
www.louispoulsen.com
www.1stdibs.com

images: (click on images to enlarge)
Series 7 chair & B614 Super-Elliptical table - w/ Piet Hein & Bruno Mathsson (top)
Swan chair (2nd)
Egg chair & ottoman (3rd)
Ant chair (4th)
Oxford chair (bottom)

BRITISH ESTABLISHMENT

Committed to quality UK based production and promotion of the best of British design talent Established & Sons boasts a “diverse and eclectic” collection of furnishings. The operative’s philosophy is perhaps best understood by the following motto … “The advocacy of celebrated designers and emerging names is integral to the company’s mission: to build an exemplary representation of British creative talent.” Their collection’s distribution network includes retailers, contract dealers, distributors and agents. Direct inquiries to company portal for local contact.

related links:
http://www.establishedandsons.com/

images: (click on images to enlarge)
Quilt by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec (top)
Bricks and Mortar by Sebastian Wrong & Richard Woods (2nd)
De La Warr Pavillion by Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby (3rd)
Flatliner by Jason Bruges Studio (4th)
Drift by Future Systems & Amanda Levete (bottom)

MAGIC CARPET

Christopher Farr (1953 - ) and business partner Matthew Bourne have been dubbed “the catalyst that revolutionized contemporary rug design”. Farr, a trained painter transitioned from oil on canvas to dye on wool some twenty years ago in London to create hand woven "ground breaking" art forms. Farr dabbled with a contemporary aesthetic which received rave reviews by his London’s cutting edge design community. In the early 90’s Farr collaborated with The Royal College of Art to design a group of rugs for an exhibition entitled “Brave New Rugs” and several years later with Italian fashion designer Romeo Gigli. These two collaborative efforts represented a breakthrough for Farr and his designs while garnering immediate international attention. In concert with their impeccable design Farr and Bourne are steadfast about using the very best yarn, dyes and weavers making their new rug designs on par with antique rug forms. Their collection today includes designs by some thirty designers to compliment Farr’s creations totaling over 900 designs that can be modified to suit the customer’s needs and space requirements plus a color bank of over 1000 shades. The company offices stateside in Los Angeles and has aligned itself with such illustrious representation as Ralph Pucci in New York.

related links:
www.christopherfarr.com
www.ralphpucci.net

MODERN MILO

Milo Baughman (1923-2003) is regarded as one of the leading American modern furniture designers of the latter half 20th century. Although Baughman designed for such furniture companies Glenn of California, Henredon & Drexel, and Furniture of Winchendon he is most remembered for his 50 year association with High Point North Carolina’s Thayer Coggin.
In addition to the "High Styles" show at the Whitney Museum of Art in New York, Baughman's furniture has been exhibited in museums and shows throughout the United States, including the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, NC and the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. Milo Baughman was inducted into the Furniture Designer's Hall of Fame in 1987.
For the most part Baughman’s furniture designs are quite plentiful on 1stdibs.
Baughman’s thinking on design is perhaps best understood by his following two declarations:

“Furniture that is too obviously designed is very interesting, but too often belongs only in museums.”

“When I left Art Center (Art Center School of Los Angeles), I thought Modern design would change the world. Now, I no longer have such lofty hopes, but perhaps the world is just a bit better off because of it. In any event, good Modern has already proven to be the most enduring, timeless and classic of all design movements.”

related links:
www.1stdibs.com

images: (click on images to enlarge)
Lounge chair & ottoman, vintage (top)
Coffee table, vintage (2nd)
Credenza, vintage (3rd)
Club chair, vintage (4th)
Dining table, vintage (bottom)

ZANOTTA SPA

In its 50+ year history Zanotta Spa has established itself as a leader in Italian industrial design. In the late 1980’s Aurelio Zanotta the company founder gave the following explanation for the company’s success. "During the 1950s and 1960s the furniture and furnishing accessories industry was bubbling over with creativity. Some firms which currently are leaders in the industrial design field and have gained international stature were sharp enough then to grasp the crux of the design and manufacturing problem. It was possible to produce both profits and culture, at the same time." *
Affilate designers/architects for Zanotta include Achille Castiglioni, Gae Aulenti, Marco Zanuso, Ettore Sottsass, Joe Colombo, Alessandro Mendini, Andrea Branzi, Giuseppe Terragni, Todd Bracher, Carlo Mollino, De Pas-D’Urbino-Lomazzi, Arik Levy, Enzo Mari, Bruno Munari, Alfredo Häberli, Roberto Barbieri, Ross Lovegrove…
Many of Zanotta design creations are mentioned in design history books and displayed at the world's major museums: New York's MOMA and Metropolitan Museum, the Paris Centre George Pompidou, the London Design Museum, Berlin's Arts and Crafts Museum, the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, and the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
In addition to company’s re-edition and more current designs, vintage designs can be found occasionally on 1stdibs.

* Excerpt from Zanotta portal

related links:
www.zanotta.it
www.1stdibs.com

images: (click on images to enlarge)
Wiiliam sofa by Damien Williamson, Sella chair By A. & P.G. Castiglioni, Jono table by Mika Tolvanen (top)
Gilda by Carlo Molino (2nd)
Reale table by Carlo Molino (3rd)
Leonardo by A. Castiglioni (4th)
Lama by Ludovica & Roberto Palomba (bottom)

*** GO YANKEES ***

SIDE KICKS

Often referred to as occasional tables these side companions offer surface assistance for endless applications. Dimensions vary to accommodate particular space requirement; higher or lower and wider or more narrow. The choices of materials are infinite: marble, veneer, or laminate table tops paired with countless base configurations. Some present and vintage table options to reference:

Andoo side table by Eoos for Walter Knoll www.walterknoll.de
Tulip by Eero Saarinen for Knoll www.knoll.com
Wire base by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller www.hermanmiller.com
Little Friend by Kasper Salto for Fritz Hansen www.fritzhansen.com
Illusion by Jean Marie Massaud for Glas Italia www.glasitalia.it
Alice cube by Jean Marie Massaud for Glas Italia www.glasitalia.it
Tod by Todd Bracher for Zanotta www.zanotta.it
Volcano by Paola Navone for Poliform www.poliform.it
Three Sofa by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini www.cappellini.it
Mini steel by Carlo Colombo for Cappellini www.cappellini.it
Gong by Guilio Cappellini for Cappellini www.cappellini.it
Loto Simplice by Antonio Citterio for Maxalto www.maxalto.it
SMTM by Antonio Citterio for Maxalto www.maxalto.it
Pace Collection, vintage www.1stdibs.com
Edward Wormley, vintage www.1stdibs.com
Paul McCobb, vintage www.1stdibs.com
Isamu Noguchi, vintage www.1stdibs.com
Hans Eichenberger for Stendig, vintage www.1stdibs.com
Pinwheel by Peter Hvidt, vintage www.1stdibs.com
Charles & Ray Eames, vintage www.1stdibs.com
George Nakashima, vintage www.1stdibs.com
Milo Baughman, vintage www.1stdibs.com

related links:
www.fritzhansen.com
www.1stdibs.com
www.vitra.com
www.hbf.com

images: (click on images to enlarge)
PK 71 nesting tables by Poul Kjaerholm for Fritz Hansen (top)
Side table for Altamira, vintage (2nd)
Lacquered X-base by Karl Springer, vintage (3rd)
Prismatic by Isamu Noguchi for Vitra (4th)
Bias by John Hutton for HBF (bottom)

THE SEA & THE HORSE

Christian Liaigre certainly falls within the category of modern day icon. The French interior, furniture and lighting designer is known for his principles of understatement and simplicity. His use of exotic woods – wacapou, ebony, wenge, wamara as well as the more traditional timbers – oak and white sycamore or his preference for leathers reminiscent of traditional saddle makers is signature for many of his designs.
CL furnishings are sold exclusively through Holly Hunt here in the U.S. HH showrooms can be found in the following U.S. cities: Miami, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, D.C., and Minneapolis. Occasionally there are a handful of CL designs on 1stdibs. Outside of the U.S. refer to the Liaigre portal. If you are of some repute or of considerable means i.e. Rupert Murdoch you might very well engage Liaigre as your interior designer; Murdoch used Liaigre to design his Soho residence in New York. Two wonderful volumes that showcase Liaigre’s domestic design work are “Maison-Christian Liaigre” by Herbert Ypma (which includes Murdoch’s Soho flat) and “Liaigre” by Christian Liaigre, Thomas Luntz, Jean-Philippe Piter both of which can be sourced on Amazon or at Holly Hunt showrooms.
Understanding the brainchild behind his designs is perhaps best explained by the following … “When asked what inspires him most in his work Liaigre has a consistent and simple answer: the sea and the horse. Many of Liaigre’s favorite ingredients might be considered chic to some, but to Liaigre who was raised in a no nonsense region of France, Ile De Re, they are perfectly rational choices because not only have they stood the test of time, but their looks also improve with age”. *

* Excerpt from Maison – Christian Liaigre by Herbert Ypma

related links:
www.hollyhunt.com
www.christian-liaigre.fr
www.1stdibs.com
www.amazon.com

images: (click on images to enlarge)
Augustin sofa (top)
Amande floor lamp (2nd)
Galet Library (3rd)
Charmane chair (4th)
Bazane stool (bottom)

OFFICE MATE

Home office or workplace aside from your desktop/laptop, secretary/office assistant the item you are closest to and literally on top of is your desk/task chair … essentially your office mate! Granted there are many to choose from particularly given the modern aesthetic; executive collection (higher back rest), leather, mesh, breathable fabric, soft pad, casters, swivel, lumbar capability, etc. Appropriately selected it provides wonderful compliment to the work surface it is paired with. As evidenced from today’s photos my personal preference are selections from Herman Miller, Vitra, Alias or Walter Knoll. Regardless of visual preference make sure to actually sit and experience their comfort and support qualities to best suit your particular body type and requirements.

related links:
www.walterknoll.de
www.hermanmiller.com
www.vitra.com
www.aliasusa.com
www.1stdibs.com

images: (click on images to enlarge)
FK Bucket by Fabricius & Kastholm for Walter Knoll (top)
Rollingframe+ by Alberto Meda for Alias (2nd)
Aluminum Group Executive Soft Pad by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller (3rd)
AC 4 by Antonio Citterio for Vitra (4th)

Time Life by Charles & Ray Eames, vintage (bottom)

JENS-MARK

With a career that has spanned nearly 70 years and still in the making Jens Risom (1916 - ) continues to dazzle design enthusiasts with a haute selection of furnishings. In collaboration with design professional Ralph Pucci the exclusive collection epitomizes Pucci’s motto “furniture should be simple, timeless and beautifully crafted.” Opposed to mass produced product Pucci has assembled an extraordinary collection of mannequins, furniture, lighting and art; the Risom collection is one such example. Risom’s Scandinavian values of craftsmanship and function combined with Pucci’s selection of quality finishes and textiles make for an uncompromising collection of mid century furnishings.

related links:
www.ralphpucci.net

images:
JR Lounge chairs thru Ralph Pucci
JR Dining table & chairs thru Ralph Pucci
JR Lounge chairs & ottoman thru Ralph Pucci
JR Side chair & low table thru Ralph Pucci
JR Settee & round side tables thru Ralph Pucci

DESIGN AL DENTE

Achille Castiglioni eloquently said it best … "Cappellini’s planning ability is clearly visible through its products, realized in these last twenty years of collaboration with designers of great quality. In Cappellini the component of the pleasure for itself and for the others is always present." *
In its 60+ year history the Cappellini brand has evolved to be one of the biggest trend setters in contemporary furnishing design due in part by its collaboration with design luminaries and to the “spirit and aims of continuous renewal” of Guilio Cappellini the company’s mastermind/art director. “The products of Cappellini are never boring neither absurd, but they always possess something of alive and light, often full of healthy humor, other times proposing brave and dynamic formal solutions: these are the characteristics that make the collection Cappellini full of vivacious fractures and contradictions”. *
Reputed international designers for the collection include Carlo Colombo, Achille Castiglioni, Piero Lissoni, Rodolfo Dordoni, Jasper Morrison, Marc Newson, Tom Dixon, Shiro Kuramata, Marcel Wanders, Christophe Pillet, Fabien Baron, Patrick Norguet, Francois Azambourg and Jean Marie Massaud.
Five years ago the renowned manufacturer became part of the Poltrona Frau Group. Later this week Cappellini will open its third U.S. showroom in the Miami Design District independent but connected with the District’s Poltrona Frau showroom. The other two Cappellini showrooms are presently in New York and Los Angeles.

* Excerpts from Cappellini portal

related links:
www.cappellini.it

images: (click on images to enlarge)
Proust Geometrica by A. Mendini (top)
Bottle table by E. Barber & J. Osgerby; S chairs by Tom Dixon; Sistema Cases container by Studio Cappellini (2nd)
Bugatti Racing limited edition by Francois Azambourg (3rd)
Fronzoni 64 table & chairs by A.G. Fronzoni (4th)
Revolving Cabinet and Sofa with Arms chair by Shiro Kuramata (bottom))