Furniture as art
Star-Bulletin staff
Some of the designers of the Modernist era featured at Design Within Reach:
COURTESY DESIGN WITHIN REACH
|
|
Akari Freeform Column (1951)
Designer: Isamu Noguchi
One of the most recognizable furniture designers of the 20th century, the Los Angeles native nearly became a doctor of medicine instead of an artist. After taking night classes in art at his mother's suggestion, he soon switched to painting and sculpture during his studies at Columbia University. The Guggenheim fellowship recipient began developing his organic signature style during an apprenticeship to Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi.
COURTESY DESIGN WITHIN REACH
|
|
Eames Lounge and Ottoman (1956)
Designers: Ray and Charles Eames
The 20th-century husband-and-wife duo were ahead of their time when they designed the Eames Lounge Chair, a piece renowned for being not only sleek and stylish, but also comfortable. Modeled on the standard club chair, it often is described as one of the most significant contributions to modern furniture design. The leather-and-molded plywood chair follows the design of chairs the couple created in the 1940s.
COURTESY DESIGN WITHIN REACH
|
|
Barcelona Chair and Stool (1929)
Designer: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
An architect by trade, German-born Mies van der Rohe first designed the tuffeted, horse-hair filled chair with partner Lilly Reich for the 1929 Barcelona World Fair. A gift from the manufacturer, the chair is part of the Museum of Modern Art's collection, along with the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman.
COURTESY DESIGN WITHIN REACH
|
|
Marshmallow Sofa (1956)
Designer: George Nelson
A former director of design at Herman Miller, Nelson worked with both Charles Eames and Isamu Noguchi during his 25-plus years with the furniture company. An accomplished technician, Miller is responsible for the storage unit system, Storagewall. Other furniture designs by Miller include the Marshmallow sofa; he also is responsible for coining the word "family room" in his 1945 book "Tomorrow's House."