gothic – [merzbau]

Alexander Kropholler (Nl.1881-1973)

Rare side chairs in teak wood. Circa 1930s.
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Alexander Kropholler was a trained carpenter and a self-taught architect whose work was influenced by that other great name in Dutch architecture H.P. Berlage. Traditionalist and historical architecture was of particular importance to his work, and he incorporated overt references to established vernaculars from Medieval to 17th century historical buildings as well as the designs of earlier Egyptian and Gothic revival styles.
In 1908 Kropholler converted to Roman Catholicism. He was looking for what he thought to be a particular Dutch style; sober, earnest and functional. This is evident in the meticulous design of these chairs.
The modern and enduring appeal of the chairs lies in the ‘Truth to material’ principles and skilful structuralism; their intricate construction is revealed and featured in the design.

Literature: De Zwaarte van de Materie; Het architectonisch werk van A.J.Kropholler (1881-1973), 2020 naiOIO

Price: 3.800 euro (pair) Set of four available

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

Sido and François Thévenin (France mid-c20th)

metal & buffalo leather side chair. Stamped. 1970s/80s.

An elegant sculptural side chair made by the famous French duo known for working across a range of specialisms including architecture, sculpture and furniture design. Like many imaginative artist/designers who came to the fore in the 1980s, their work combines elements of Postmodernism to create a narrative object : Gothic, baroque and brutalism combined in a theatrical narrative. This 1970s-80s art-chair would look fabulous in any stylish interior. It has the maker’s brandished marks to the back of the leather seat.

Born on the French Riviera in 1931, François Thévenin’s output oscillates between architecture, sculpture, design and poetry using his favourite material, metal. Trained at the Beaux-Arts in Paris in the 1950s, he met his future wife and partner Gisèle Sidoti, known as Sido (1934-86). In 1958, after his military service, François and Sido moved to the south, to Cannes-la-Bocca, where their house-workshop is still located.

Price: 3,200 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com