NEW YORK.- The Thonet Museum, at Frankenberg, near Frankfurt, in Germany, has decided to de-accession a group of works that serve to illustrate the firm’s key role in the history of modern furniture design. Thonet was founded by Michael Thonet in the early 19th century. The company came to prominence and achieved considerable commercial success from the 1850s when Thonet put into production his first viable experiments in bent-wood. The business that he founded, still in the care of his descendants, has remained at the forefront of furniture design and production through over a century and a half. Through this period, the name Thonet has been consistently associated with avant-garde design.
On exhibition in Phillips,de Pury & Luxembourg’s generous Chelsea galleries in New York from December 2-7, 2003, the sale includes an extremely rare chair -the ’Boppard’ from 1842, one of the earliest experiments in laminated wood (estimate: $12,000-18,000); classic bentwood designs, including rare models illustrate the development of functionalist forms suited to series production in the later 19th century. Designs by Josef Hoffman, Otto Wagner and Adolf Loos remind us of Thonet’s close links with the Vienna Secession, while tubular steel-framed pieces by Bauhaus and other designers of the late 1920s and 1930s confirm the firm’s on-going commitment to new ideas. Pop designs from the 1960s by Verner Panton bring the story closer to the present day.
Thonet has always been committed to exploring new possibilities as regards materials and appropriate forms. The proceeds from the sale will be invested in the firm’s future, funding the development of new ideas. The museum will continue to operate as a fascinating study centre with a still impressive and comprehensive collection.
The sale at Phillip’s, de Pury & Luxembourg, NY, further includes: A wide selection of furniture and furnishings and precious objects illustrating many of the key avant-garde tendencies of the 20th century and bringing the story of design right up to the present day. A rare Art Nouveau gold brooch by Belgian architect designer Henry Van de Velde (estimate: $35,000-45,000) well represents the radical design movements of around 1900. The traditions of elegant high luxury that so distinguished French design in the Art Deco years are exemplified in works by Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann. French modernism is well illustrated in works by Jean Perzel, Desny, Robert Mallet-Stevens and Jean Prouvé, whose ’Afrique’ table sets a hardwood top on a futuristic metal base (estimate: $80,000-120,000).
The sale includes an exceptional group of pieces by key Scandinavian cabinetmaker designers, notably an early ’Chieftain’ chair by Finn Juhl, and pieces from the 1940s by Ole Wanscher, a designer whose works are starting to attract the attention they deserve.
Experimental lamps and furniture by Ugo La Pietra, Ettore Sottsass, Archizoom and Gufram demonstrate the challenging and witty experiments of the Italian avant-garde from the 1960’s. A magnificent marble table by Sottsass is a unique private commission from the 1980s (estimate: $30,000-40,000). Rare designs by Shiro Kuramata, Ron Arad, Michael Young and the Campana brothers will also be offered.
