When I think of art deco etc I visualise like hercule poirot set's, or cinema foyers from the 1930's. or busby berkley type films, rich toffs sipping cocktails on luxury cruise liners etc :lol: I never thought much of the style, a sort of waterd down british compromise of the new internationalism. However I happen to think that the orange chair is actually a very nice piece (and wizer's red chair come to that 8) ). Was it designed by
Jacob epstein? If it was that would explain its strong sculptural form. I like the lack of superfluous ornament, yet the piece isnt austere. There is nice contarast of materials, eg matt leather, shiny figured wood. The actual method of construction has created part of the "ornament" (the lines of stitching on the up holstery) Both these chairs looks inviting and comfortable and dont look stale and dated like the movie prop stuff I mentioned earlier.
I'm not so keen on the breuer chair, even though it was unbelievably daring and inovartive back in the 20's when it apeared. You can almost imagine the old menuisiers spluttering zut alors, mon dieu sacre bleu c'est merde when confronted with it for the first time I mean using
bent steel tube to make a carcass?? I always think its ironic that the original pioneering design's which were planned as socialist attempts to promote a new universal utopia are now remarketed in small batches as exclusive fashion statements for the better off. :?: It was a very heady time though, with cars/aircraft/film's/radio etc all coming into use, and adopting new industrial mass production method's to suposedly deliver good design to the masses in furniture/architecture/consumer products etc. Form follows function, show the constructin as part of its character instead of hiding it, no illusions, no ornament etc etc the modernist ethos. As for bent wood lamination, Aalvar alto takes some beating he did it all often imitated but rarely surpassed, ecxept possibly that american architect whose building's are all wonky and wavy (cant recall his name but built a prison on the simpson's?? :lol: ) who uses thin laminated strips to build light see through forms where most of the "volume" is thin air :lol:
Mies van de roe's Barcelona chair is an excellent timeless piece, one of my all time favourite's, also a lot of the Danish stuff, not afraid to celebrate the warmth and tactile quality of wood, and use traditional joinery.
I'm rambling now, but this is great stuff to discuss
cheers Jonathan
PS edit it was Frank Gehry
This is an example of the bent wood forms he did in the early 90's. Sort of cut up an aalto form and reassemble it like a thonet type chair form
http://www.retromodern.com/images/knoll_5489.jpg
