Tag: Modernism

20th century

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Pair of freestanding mid-century bookshelves. Circa 1950s.

Constructed of rich coloured solid cherry and mahogany woods with solid brass detailing / 91 x 24.5 x 70cm high (129.2 cm high when stacked)

A smart and rare pair of stackable solid wood bookshelves with a strong angular silhouette. Of English origin; they are designed in the manner of Angelo Mangiarotti & B Morassutti.

Discreetly shaped edges of the sidepieces enable them to be stacked to form a single, taller unit. Each unit can be easily dismantled and flat-packed for easy transport/shipping.

Price: 1.500 euro

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Bas van Pelt (Netherlands 1900-1945)

Oak framed cantilever chair with thick rope woven seat and back. 1930s. My Home/ The Hague.

58 x 68 x 66.5cm high (seat height 35.5cm)

Comfortable chair, designed by Bas van Pelt ca. 1936 for My Home Netherlands.
This chair, designed in 1936 was a precursor to the similar chairs by French designers Andoux & Minet (1940s/50s).

Examples can be found in the permanent collection of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. Documented in the book ‘My Home: Bas van Pelt, Binnenhuisarchitectuur 1931-95,’ P.Faber, Uitgeverij010.

Price: 3.250 euro

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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

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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

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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: 9.400 euro (pair)

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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

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Dom Hans van der Laan (Netherlands 1904-1991)

Tulip wood with metal work & inset gemstones.

130 x 98 x 95cm high

A large Bossche School alter table. (that can function as a high table like in a kitchen or shop)

Designed by the Dutch Benedictine monk/architect Dom Hans vd Laan. Unlike most of van der Lann’s furniture this piece is decorated with a narrow frieze that goes all around the base section. The metal and stone decorative elements across the side is possibly by Dutch mid-century metal worker Jan Noyons and colour selected by Wim van Hooff. This rare example of Van der Laan’s designs was part of a collection of furniture came from a post-war church in Amstelveen in The Netherlands. The church was subsequently destroyed, and the furniture sold off.

Note: The tabletop and base can be separated for easier transport.

Price:  4.500

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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

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com