Tag Archives: Furniture the Met

Marcel Breuer at the Met

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Breuer armchair

The geometry of Bauhaus executed in wood by Marcel Breuer

The placard accompanying Breuer’s armchair at the Met cites the strong influence of Dutch architect and designer on Gerrit Rietveld on this “de Stil-like” design. It also notes this is Breuer’s first use of a cantilevered frame. I find it interesting that it’s executed in wood where I associate most Bauhaus design with bent metal frames. In any case, it’s distinctive, if not necessarily comfortable . . .

Nakashima at the Met

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A butterfly key binds a split in a slab table by George Nakashima.

A butterfly key binds a split in a slab table by George Nakashima.

Unlike other makers represented in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, the work of George Nakashima is not on display in a gallery. Instead, it furnishes the entry room to the museum’s Japanese galleries. Consequently you can sit at a large conference table in a sculpted chair and run your hands over the glassy smoothness of the slab top or inspect the inlaid butterfly keys. Continue reading →