furniture, art & design
20th century design
Sori Yanagi (Jap.1915-2011)
Rosewood veneer/plywood with brass fittings
Classic ‘Butterfly’ stool. Manufactured by Tendo Mokko. 1980s.
It has the Tendo Mokko label (Tendo) to the underside and the measurements conform to the slightly smaller Japanese scale. Good condition with minor edge wear only.
Price: 1.800 euro
Gino Sarfatti (Italy 1912-85)
Iconic Gino Sarfatti Model 213 wall lamp designed for Arteluce in 1956. Aluminium shade.
A rare classic Italian modernist lamp in all original, vintage used condition.
Price: 6.800 euro
Heinz Witthoeft (Germany 1935-2021)
Pair of ‘Tail 4’ lounge chairs. 1959. Witthoeft Stuttgart 1960s.
Pine frames with slung leather/hide. 64.5 x 64.5 x 54cm high.
Radical modernist lounge chairs that are almost never to be found as a pair – the ‘Tail 4’ design has an architectural cube frame that each houses a low slung thick leather seat. The combination of a rigid external frame and flexible seat define and enhance the seating experience. (These chairs almost cross over into the realm of sculpture – and as sculptures they pre-date and anticipate some of the later minimalist art of Sol le Wit, Donald Judd or other minimalist artists of the 60s-70s).
Trained at the prestigious Ulm School of Design, Witthoeft embodies the functionalist and minimalist spirit characteristic of German modernism from that era. His varied output as a designer included furniture systems, drawings, photographs, and graphic designs all contributed to his utopian urban vision in Post-war Germany and are embodied in the design of these chairs.
Completely original condition with a distinctive warm patina commensurate with their age.
Price: 9.200 euro (pair)
Alvar Aalto (Finland 1898-1976)
Model 70 two-tier side table. Birch and birch faced plywood.
O.Y. Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas A. B., Turku, Finland.
A classic 1930s-40s early Aalto production circular table. This table is in superb condition, with restored table top and a wonderful honey glazed colour.
Price: 3.200 euro
Hans van der Laan & Harry van Hal (Netherlands c20th)
Merbau wood. 175.5 x 131 x 76cm
This table was part of the original interior furnishings of the Bethlehem Church (Bethlehem Kerk) built in 1979 in Breda, Netherlands. It was designed by two Bossche School architects: Hans van der Laan, (the nephew of Dom Hans van der Laan) together with the Dutch architect Harry van Hal.
As the table had been stripped back to the wood by the previous owner we had surface/colour resurfaced back to its original intended bossche school warm grey colour (matching remnants of the previous paint still visible to the underside)
Price: 6.000 euro
Alvar Aalto (Finland 1898-1976)
Manufactured by the firm O.Y. Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas A. B., Turku, Finland. 1930s.
A rare model 21 cantilever chair with a karelian birch moulded plywood seat. Designed in 1933, this is a 1930s chair.
This design by Aalto actualises many of his modern ideals: the object is composed of three shaped components that are free of any ornamentation, and has an easily legible logic to its construction – The design represents Aalto at the height of his creative powers.
The structure of the chair is strong and robust. The surface is a later varnish that has been well aged and used so that it now has a natural age and use related honey-tone patina commensurate with its age. (more detailed photos are available on request)
Price: 8.000 euro
Ingo Maurer (Germany 1932-2019)
Murano glass with brass and metal fittings. Original shades.
69.5cm diameter x 81cm high
Rare pair of very large table or floor lamps. The model name is “Tschung” by Ingo Maurer was produced by M-Design in the 1980s and combines an engraved opaline glass body by Vetri Murano with its original fabric lampshade. Both light sources – the glass body and the shade – can be switched on separately, creating a gentle, interplay of light. One of the lamps is labelled Vetri Murano on one of the glass. An identical model is published in “Ingo Maurer – Designing with Light” by Bernhard Dessecker on page 181 (bottom right). Models of this version very rarely appear on the market – especially with their original large sized shades.
Price: 2.500 euro (pair)
Angelo Lelli (Italy 1911-1979)
Metal structure body with lacquered base with oxidised steel magnetised lamp/ball. 61.5cm high
‘Cobra’ lamp for Arredoluce, Italy. 1962 by Italian light designer and founder of Arredoluce Angelo Lelli.
This table lamp/sculpture model ‘12919’ known as ‘il Cobra’ by the workers at Arredoluce for its association with the form of the snake has pivoting black oxide steel magnetized “eyeball” socket set into what is in effect a midcentury biomorphic standing sculpture.
The quality of manufacture of these lamps is outstanding – they have a good substantial feel and weight to them. This one is completely original and in superb condition (no deterioration of the original finish as is common with these lamps, and with original plug and bulb).
Price: 7.450 euro
[merzbau] 