Category: Furniture

Alexandre Noll

subtitle: "All that could be made out of wood"

By Jennifer S. Li | 12 Dec 10 | Artists, Furniture, Wood | 1 Comment

Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo Buonarotti (1475-1564) famously said, “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” This same principle — the sumptuousness of the raw material seeming to spiritually guide and coax the artist’s hand — is at work in artist and designer Alexandre Noll’s wood sculptures, furniture and household objects.

1 Comment

Giò Ponti

subtitle: Not Your Typical Modernist

By Sophie Zifcak | 22 Jul 10 | Artists, Designers, Furniture | 2 Comments

It’s hard to believe that an architecture style can be dominant for 100s of years, especially one that was based on the ideas of Classic Rome. But this was the case with Palladian Neo-Classicism. Named for Italian architect Andrea Palladio (1508-1580), and characterized by symmetrical monumentality with Classic detailing. This is what architecture was, and this is how it was taught to Giò Ponti (1891-1979) at Milan Polytechnic in the early 1900’s. Lucky for us tides were about to turn and Gio Ponti was a true original.

Architect and designer Gio Ponti working at is desk

Giò Ponti, Courtesy of Life Magazine (Click to Enlarge)

2 Comments

Teak Wood

subtitle: And Scandinavian Modern Design

By Allen C. Thayer | 30 Mar 10 | Furniture, Materials, Wood | 9 Comments

Scandinavian Modern furniture is often associated with teak, the ultra-durable hardwood from Southeast Asia. Before their discovery of teak, Scandinavian furniture designers used softer woods, like pine, which is native to the region. Teak is considered by many to be an ideal material for furniture because it’s one of the strongest woods, and at the same time relatively light. Its inherent color and oil gives it a soft, natural sheen, which mirrors the Modern emphasis on truth to materials and functionality.

Elephants Piling Teak, Burma, Courtesy of the University of Glasgow

9 Comments

Naugahyde

subtitle: Pernicious Plastics and Mid-Century's Modernity

By Brion Paul | 10 Feb 10 | Furniture, Materials, Plastic | 11 Comments

Nothing better evokes the post war optimism and better-living-through-chemistry ideology of America than the most genuine of fakes, Naugahyde. A PVC coated vinyl fabric unleashed into the American marketplace as a replacement for leather, it followed in a long line of heavily and effectively marketed, laboratory-launched imitations: Formica’s eclipsing of marble, Con-Tact paper’s mimicry and obfuscating of wood…

Naugahyde Advertising, 1967 (Read Full Copy at Bottom of Article)

11 Comments

George Nelson Flip Clock

subtitle: A Clear Vision of Modern Design

By David Vega | 18 Jan 10 | Designers, Electronics, Furniture | 10 Comments

What is the crowning glory of your civilization… the symbol as clear a statement as the pyramids, the Parthenon, the cathedrals? What is this symbol? What is its name?

Its name is Junk.

Junk is the rusty, lovely, brilliant symbol of the dying years of your time. Junk is your ultimate landscape. – George Nelson, 1965

George Nelson Design for Herman Miller Clock Company, Circa 1950

10 Comments

Wooden Crates

subtitle: Heavy Duty Packaging

By Sebastian Kaufmann | 30 Nov 09 | Furniture, Packaging, Wood | 10 Comments

You see vintage wooden crates everywhere at flea markets. Many vendors don’t sell them, but use them to carry their wares from the car to the booth, and back to the car. They don’t consider a crate as a nostalgic thing, imbued with some hidden beauty. It’s just a convenient way to schlep things around. From these people you can get the best deals on crates. Although, sometimes, they don’t want to give them up because they know it’s hard to find another box that sturdy.

Golden Glow Beer Crate

10 Comments

Category: Furniture

Alexandre Noll

subtitle: "All that could be made out of wood"

Giò Ponti

subtitle: Not Your Typical Modernist

Teak Wood

subtitle: And Scandinavian Modern Design

Naugahyde

subtitle: Pernicious Plastics and Mid-Century's Modernity

George Nelson Flip Clock

subtitle: A Clear Vision of Modern Design

Wooden Crates

subtitle: Heavy Duty Packaging

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