The Mid-Century Modernist

The Best of Bond & Bowery

2009-11-03T08:01:03-08:00

I’m pleased to welcome Bond & Bowery as a Mid-Century Modernist sponsor. This unique marketplace gathers the best wares from antique dealers with a focus on modern design. Strolling through Bond & Bowery, with it’s ample, high-res imagery and informed descriptions, is a welcome alternative to the unedited, amateur postings on craigslist and eBay. Each week I’ll pick my favorite new listing from the site. Let’s start the series with three!

Lounge Chair & Ottoman by Vatne Mobler

Dealer Janus Home describes this Norwegian piece as “one of the most comfortable lounge chairs ever produced” and I can’t see a reason to doubt that claim. It rocks, reclines and swivels, and can lock into recline by means of a lever. This is the ultimate chair for those like me who are disappointed with the inflexibility of the Eames Lounge.

Action Office Rolltop Desk by George Nelson for Herman Miller

Nelson’s Swag Leg gets all the attention but there is no easier, classier way to quickly hide a messy desk than a walnut rolltop.

Rosewood Tuxedo Sofa

You know I’m a fan of sofas wrapped in wood, and this anonymous rosewood beauty from the ’70s is worthy of a spot on the list. Newly upholstered with a back as beautiful as its front.

Bolle Bottles by Tapio Wirkkala for Venini

2009-10-15T22:14:03-07:00

This series, designed by Tapio Wirkkala [the guy had a mug worthy of his bottles] in 1968, employs the “Incalmo” technique wherein two different types of glass, worked separately, are fused together to obtain, within a single object, separate areas differentiated by colors. — Moss

Don’t look at the price. Just look at the picture.
More below.

Danish Modern Rockers

2009-10-13T23:11:57-07:00

The hardware isn’t as hidden as I’d like, and information is notably absent on the listing, but this is one of the more original modern rockers I’ve seen. The reserve is not yet met but it should go for far less than something well known.

Meanwhile, this svelte Model 97 T/T manufactured by Tønder Møbelværk in 1957 is in another class. It’s attributed to a “Geroge Jensen”, but this is clearly a typo. It couldn’t be this Georg Jensen as he died in 1935 and designed only ceramics and silverware, not any furniture as far as I know. The correct name is probably Holger Georg Jensen, according to the Danish Design Dictionary.

Update: Orange and Brown has photos of another specimen.

If you want a relaxing addition to your mid-century room that isn’t your grandma’s rocking chair, these are rare gets.

Eames House Photos by George Chen

2009-10-10T23:09:42-07:00

Speaking of the Eames House, photographer George Chen captured the essence of its Mondrianesque exterior during a visit last week. See the set of photos.

Chromeography: Mid-Century Chrome Lettering

2009-10-04T23:14:17-07:00

There are still a few spots to polish, but I thought readers would appreciate a sneak peek at another project of the Mid-Century Modernist. Chromeography is dedicated to the chrome logos and lettering affixed to vintage automobiles and electric appliances — those unsung metal emblems and badges that are overlooked, forgotten, damaged, lost to time or the dump.

The site is simply an interactive gallery you can explore by make/model, decade, color, and lettering style. There are also tags for emblems which are not on cars but appliances and gadgets like refrigerators and cameras.

So go ahead and bask in the gleam. Your feedback and photo submissions are welcome.

The Eames House in LIFE Magazine, 1950

2009-09-27T23:13:58-07:00

The announcement that Google Books now houses in its digital archives over 1,860 issues of LIFE magazine sent me immediately to the search box on a quest for mid-century related articles. The first result was this piece on the Eames House published on September 11, 1950, just five years after Charles and Ray made their indelible mark on American design with their popular furniture. More photographs from the article by Peter Stackpole are below the jump.

Also available at Google are thousands of unpublished photos for LIFE, 200 of which are Eames related, including this less-than-perfect image of the Eames House exterior. Read more about the house at the Eames Foundation, who just celebrated its 60th anniversary. You can still visit the building and tours are given once a year.

“For his friend Billy Wilder (above) Eames designed this special chair in which the restless Wilder can easily jump around while watching television.”

Braun SK 6 by Dieter Rams

2009-09-25T14:14:55-07:00

Michael Dent has posted some beautiful shots of a beautiful machine: the SK 6 phonograph and radio for Braun. Dieter Rams & Hans Gugelot’s landmark design — the first hifi with a clear plexiglas lid — is an update of the original SK 4, introduced in 1956. The series was known as the “Schneewitchensarg” — translated directly: “Snow White’s Coffin”.

I’ll quote Khoi Vinh: “still more beautiful than any model of iPod ever”.

If you gotta have one, there are a few on eBay now, including a more affordable predecessor, a working SK 5, for $749.

Rock’n-Rest Lounge Chair by Gimson & Slater, UK

2009-09-04T11:02:30-07:00

Auction ending in 2 days: a rare “Rock'n-Rest”, highback lounge chair, designed in Norway and produced by the Gimson & Slater Ltd, United Kingdom. Adjustable rocking seat and back can be locked in 8 different positions by means of a handle.

Fresh and Friendly

2009-08-27T19:04:55-07:00

“The rearranged Living Room”, recently submitted to our photo group by Candi Mandi

This is Amanda Johnson’s living room. This is her blog. This is her Etsy shop.

Desks by Peter Lvig Nielsen

2009-08-26T00:17:51-07:00

Lovig Teak Desk — 64" long x 29" wide x 29" tall. Auction ends Thursday. More lovely Løvig desks at eBay below, but probably none as fantastic as this one:

Rosewood Corner Desk from my friends at Two Columbia Road in London. Credited to a “Kurt Lovig”. Is this the same man? More info at Decopedia, who assigns it to Peter Løvig Nielsen.