Category: Decorative Arts

SOFA New York, April 20-23, 2012

Sculpture Objects Functional Art Fair Celebrates 15th Anniversary in NYC
SOFA New York will be back at The Park Avenue Armory (at 67th Street) in the Spring of 2012. Get ready for some wonderful surprises, cutting edge design schemes and an exciting roster of fifty-five international dealers.
Merete Rasmussen
Red twisted Form, 2011, Stoneware, 17.5 in. h. x 19.5 in. wide x 11 7/8 in. deep
J. Lohmann Gallery
The 15th anniversary will kick off on Friday, April 20th through Monday, April 23rd. The invitation-only Opening Night VIP Preview is Thursday, April 19 from 5-7 pm, followed by a Public Preview from 7-9 pm by ticket purchase.

Donna Davies, Director of SOFA fairs in New York, Chicago and Santa Fe adds, “In celebration of SOFA NEW YORK’s milestone 15th anniversary, plans are underway to reinvigorate the design and aesthetics of the exhibition hall. We look forward to presenting an exciting group of new dealers this fair who are strong in international ceramics.” This year’s new comers are: Cultural Connections CC (Missenden, England), specialists in Danish ceramics. Erskine, Hall & Coe located in London’s Mayfair, specialists in 20th century and contemporary ceramics. Former director of the prestigious Galerie Besson, Matthew Hall established the new gallery with his partners in the same Bond Street location when seminal ceramics dealer Anita Besson retired in June. Flow Gallery, also from London: Yvonna Demczynska of Flow said, “Our international selection of artists will include Dutch artist Henk Wolvers, master of porcelain who creates colorful, subtle forms alive with movement and translucency. Wolvers’s work, Lines, was recently purchased for The Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The Museum of Arts and Design in New York also purchased a Wolvers piece for its permanent collection. Megumi Ogita Gallery (Tokyo, Japan), focusing on young Japanese and American artists remarkable “for their absorption and adaptation of traditional materials and techniques in startling new expressions.”
Of Note
SOFA Lecture Series, free with paid admission. Leading the way on this year’s docket is glass artist/designer Dan Dailey (Schantz Galleries, Stockbridge, MA), internationally-known for his vibrant, humorous sculpture and luminary art. AVIP Program for upper-level collectors and gallery clients will again offer VIP cardholders ultra-exclusive private collections and curator-led museum exhibitions tours. Over 400 VIPs participated in the program last year.
Friday Evening Savvy Soirée, April 20 for the 35 and under set. Last year’s enthusiastic crowd included alumni from the Institute of Fine Arts, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), School of Visual Arts, New York University, Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, Boston University’s MFA Program, Pilchuck Glass School, and Chicago Art Institute; young collectors groups from the Museum of Modern Art, The Smithsonian, The Whitney Contemporary, Fuller Craft Museum, and Christie’s and Sotheby’s auction houses; and young designers from the offices of Bradley Stephens, Jayne Michaels, Adrianne Neff, Jennifer Eisenstadt, Tamara Eaton, and Tim Button.
The 5th annual invitation-only Designer Breakfast Preview, Friday, April 20, planned in consultation with SOFA’s National Design Committee, which includes such notables as Alexander Gorlin, Amy Lau, Juan Montoya, Jamie Drake, Nancy Epstein, Steven Gambrel, David Ling, and Joyce and Maya Romanoff.


David Ebner
Oval Dining Table, Ovangkol, 35 x 55 x 96
William Zimmer Gallery

Photo: LuAnn Thompson

Hans Coper
Selected Works, 1960s – 1970s, stoneware, various sizes

Erskine, Hall, & Coe

Tangerine Tango – The 2012 Color Of The Year

Time To Tango

As an interior designer, I understand fully the importance of color, not just the ones I favor, but the ones my clients are drawn to. Due to an individual need for complete sereneness, muted and understated tones are the color of choice.
Alice Red & Orange Wallpaper by Marcel Wanders. Graham & Brown




But when clients needs that extra umph, they veer toward colors that excite and invigorate their personalities at home. Imagine how pleased I was to read back in December, that Pantone announced Tangerine Tango as their Color of The Year. A good choice by far. Color is important to us all, and as a culture, we embrace color as it means different things to each one of us. What does Tangerine Tango means to you? For me, it represents power, plus it stimulates the senses. It’s also a sincere, and thoughtful color. And now more than ever, I believe that this world needs to embrace those virtues. Here’s what the folks at Pantone had to say about their selection: “Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

Spring 2012
La vie du Grand Nord
Affordable & Stylish
Furniture & Rug from Layla Grayce
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, with tangerine leather

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Furniture Design Trends for 2012

Furniture design moves at a different pace to fashion design. People want their furniture to last, and particularly in a time of economic austerity, few people want to see their furniture as just a throwaway, fashion influenced trend. That said, things always grow and change, and furniture trends tend to follow not just changing tastes, but changing needs as the ways in which we live our lives alter over time.
 Tangerine Tango – The 2012 Color of the Year

So, while you might not find sudden changes to furniture fashion, with Italian sofas on-trend this year and French chairs the next, trends do develop. Here are some of the furniture design trends we predict for 2012.
Recycled Furniture 
In keeping with current concerns about the environment and the need to conserve precious resources, the recycled furniture movement is growing. All kinds of surprising things can be made into something new. The most obvious is furniture made from reclaimed wood, with the rough-hewn qualities it has creating interest. More adventurous souls could seek out furniture made from crushed cans and reformed into chairs and tables, or perhaps furniture made from old surf and skate boards, such as pieces by Zanini de Zanine Caldas. If you have the design and building skills, you could even make your own. Another route is to look for materials reclaimed from old buildings and house clearances and use them as the centerpiece for something new.
Eco-Friendly Furniture 
In keeping with the above, designers and manufacturers are increasingly keen to show that their furniture has good eco-credentials. For example, the use of sustainable woods and fabrics which have not been treated with harsh chemicals both increase a piece’s cool factor. Untreated furniture is often the most eco-friendly, and many people are looking for furniture that does not use harmful chemicals in its manufacture. Some of this kind of furniture can be at the top-end in terms of price, as manufacturers compete for scare sustainable resources. Others, such as cushion covers made from un-dyed hemp, can be very cheap and accessible. 

New Retro Furniture 
There is a definite trend for low-slung, retro-style furniture that makes use of glass and metal to create a very 1960s to 70s look. Sofas and chairs increasingly have low seating heights, and so coffee tables are lowered to match. Many designers are making heavy use of glass too, so those low tables may well have glass tops, and those low beds have glass headboards. This kind of furniture has a lovely, relaxed feel: it harks back to the comforting confidence of another age, while also injecting a bit of modern edginess into a room. 
Brightly Colored Furniture 
Furniture in bright colors catches the eye and can act as a focal point in a room. In particular (and mirroring catwalk trends) acid yellows, and bright purples can be seen everywhere. This is a great trend if you don’t have a big budget to work with, as you can change some fabrics or add a big, statement picture to achieve it. And of course, if you are able to spend more, it allows you to really go all out to achieve a new, bold look. 
Neutrally Colored Furniture 
This might sound as if it contradicts the above, but actually, it works in harmony with it. After all, you can only have so much color in one room. It also works as part of the eco-friendly trend, with un-dyed fabrics worked in. As well as un-dyed fabrics, colors like gray, taupe, cream and stone work well and can be combined with many brighter colors for a great all-round look. Neutral colors can help keep things clean and light, and allow you to display art or photographs without worrying about color clashes.

Photo courtesy of Roche Bobois
Modular Furniture
Modular furniture isn’t new, but it is growing in popularity. And it doesn’t just have to mean modular sofas: anything which can be combined with something else to give it a double use comes under this trend. Modular furniture allows you to re-jig a room instantly, so you could go from having scattered chairs which separate a room into areas for different activities, into having a single cozy centerpiece for family and friends to gather on and around.
Contributed by Izzy Woods

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Design Masters at Phillips de Pury

Phillips de Pury’s Design Masters auction took place last evening to a stunning result of $4,914,925. The crown jewel was the gonse chairs by Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann. This was a magnificent triumph for Art Deco. 
Stunning Results: Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann. Pair of “gonse” armchairs, 1930-1932. Lacquered wood, fabric. Underside of one frame branded with “Ruhlmann”. Estimated at $600,000 – $800,000. Realized at $1,426,500



Over the last few years, the results for auction houses world-wide have proven that Art Deco ruled supreme. Another significant factor came to light as a result of the Design Masters sale. It became quite obvious that a continuing strong appeal and results for French mid-century design is in demand, and that Phillips de Pury is the market leader in Italian glass. Exceptional prices for works by glass masters Carlo Scarpa and Fulvio Bianconi (realized prices totaled $287,000) came up in the very top.

George Nakashima
Early “Conoid” bench with single free-form arm, 1961
American black walnut, hickory, three East Indian rosewood butterfly keys. Underside signed in black marker with “Reed.” Together with a copy of hte original order card and a letter of authenticity from Mira Nakashima.
Estimate at $100,000 – $150,000
Realized at $230,500
Dagobert Peche
Rare table lamp, 1921
Ash, ash-veneered wood, fabric.
Estimate at $120,000 – $180,000
Gio Ponti
Monumental chandelier, for the Hotel Parco dei Principi, Rome 1964
Rosted glass, brass, manufactured in Italy. Certificate of authenticity from teh Gio Ponti Archives.
Estimated at $80,000 – $120,000
Jean Royere
Extremely rare “Oeuf” chest of drawers, ca. 1958
Ash, Ash-veneered wood, fabric
Estimate $120,000 – $180,000
Realized at $158,000
Photos courtesy of Phillips de Purry

Pavilion of Art & Design at The Park Avenue Armory




November 11 – 14, 2011

Since its grand opening in Paris 15 years ago, the Pavilion of Art & Design fairs, better known as PAD, have been closely associated with presenting works of art of the highest quality which have been vetted by distinctive panels of experts. This year, PAD brought their “oeuvre d’art” to the prestigious Park Avenue Armory.
Galerie Downtown

This inaugural fair brought together 49 international galleries who are exhibiting works of Modern Art, Design, Decorative Arts, Photography, Jewelery and Tribal Art. The exhibit is inviting and full of design inspirations.  Many of the dealers are carrying some of the most exquisite pieces that I’ve ever laid eyes on.
One such dealer is Galerie Downtown.  Its owner, François Laffanour created the gallery with a thoroughly avant-garde brief: the rehabilitation of 20th century architects’ furniture which had sunk into oblivion. He is championing the works of two pioneers of 20th century Decorative Arts: Jean Prouvé and Charlotte Perriand (joint founder of the Union des Artists Modernes with Le Corbusier in 1929), as well as that of Serge Mouille and Isamu Noguchi. I like the fact that these blue-chip artists were passionate about freedom, they were able to re-invent far more than a way of life or a way of dwelling, rather a life project, no less, a manifesto of the period’s technical and scientific modernity. Charlotte Perriand once said “What interests me is people. Spare lines whose functional quality goes hand-in-hand with everyday gestures, and simple materials (wood, metal, bamboo) combined with a keen sense of detail contributed to the refinement of their works”. This in fact is a huge interest of mine as well.

For this first Pavilion of Art and Design, the French architect Jean de Piépape exclusively designed Galerie Downtown’s stand with all the geometry and subtlety that are the hallmarks of his reputation. His deft selection of furniture and objects include a seating and a staircase by Jean Prouvé, a bench, seats and shelves by Charlotte Perriand.

Park Avenue Armory
643 Park Avenue
(67th Street)
New York, New York 10065
212-744-8180
Hours:  11 AM – 8 PM

Jean Prouvé
Circa 1942, Dining table
Charlotte Perriand
1955, “Shadow” chair
Pierre Jeanneret
Ca. 1955, Armless easy chair
Charlotte Perriand
1961, Bench with drawer box

Jean Prouvé’s Industrial Furniture

French metal worker, Jean Prouvé was a self-taught architect and designer who would most likely always be remembered for his influence in the development of the idea of nomadic architecture, likening a chair to a house, and designing both with portability in mind.
Jean Prouvé bookshelf, 1953 

Above all, his main achievement was the ability to transfer manufacturing technology from industry to architecture, without losing aesthetic qualities. It’s also worth mentioning that he was an outstanding designer with many talents. From architectural design, industrial design, structural design right down to furniture design.

*  Don’t forget to participate in our End of Summer Giveaways, listed here on High End Weekly™.

One of a kind cradle by Jean Prouvé, 1936
In Vogue
Popular Jean Prouvé Standard Chair Vitra (picture provided by nova68.com)
Jean Prouvé: Visiteur Lounge Chair 
(picture provided by wright20.com)
Jean Prouvé Compass desk 
Ateliers Jean Prouvé
Jean Prouvé table
Jean Prouvé Coffee Table, 1944
Jean Prouvé: Objects and Furniture Design By Architects

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The Fine Art and Antiques Show

The Spring Show at the Park Avenue Armory

Now that the first New York Spring Show is out of the way, I can comfortably reflect upon how vibrant and well organized it was. Kudos Mr. Clinton Howell for pulling one of the most memorable fair – to date.



The opening night had such a great turn out that at some point, I even thought perhaps they were expecting a dozen head of states, but no, what was happening was the gathering of a great number of well dressed New Yorkers, who were gamed to enjoy some of the best art and antiques from around the world. I love how the show engaged its audience by having a variety of VIP tours. Just today, my husband and I were at a private tour over at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, enjoying the special exhibition Set in Style: The Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels. The museum’s curator, Ms. Sarah D. Coffin, adroitly directed more than a dozen attendees (more than all the other tours combined). Truly, I was puzzled that not many people took advantage of these VIP tours. Since this was the 1st Spring Show, perhaps more people will join in the fun in the years to come.  The pictures above represent my key highlights, from Iliad Gallery, where classicism meets modernism, to those gorgeous carpets from Sonia Delaunay (there is a current exhibit of Ms. Dalaynay’s work at the Cooper-Hewitt until the beginning of June) at the Vojtech Blau to that not so beautiful easy chair from Alexander Cohane which happens to be one of the most comfortable seating you will ever have the pleasure of lounging in. The Spring Show had some earthly treasures for all those art and furniture lovers.
Park Avenue Armory
643 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10065
212-744-8180

Daphne Alazraki Fine Art
Vojtech Blau

Geoffrey Diner Galler

Michael Pashby Antiques

www.michaelpashbyantiques.com

Lost City Arts
www.lostcityarts.com

Jack Kilgore & Co.
Douglas Dawson

www.douglasdawson.com

Robert Simon Fine Art

www.robertsimon.com

Carlotn Hobbs
www.carltonhobbs.net

RM Barokh Antiques

Conru
Alexander Cohane

Photos by High End Weekly™

Peak Of The Week: Tactile Textiles






R E T U R N I N G   B A C K   T O   N A T U R E

Nature has always been a great source of inspiration in my designs.  Come to think of it, that is one of the reasons why I love the elegantly simple textiles from Création Baumann. Their new collection “The Living Line” is guided by nature, especially in the selection of natural colors.

Cosmea



Impeccably painted floral designs on silk taffeta, “Cosmea” brings to mind classic floral prints of long ago, with arrangements and coloring that deliberately deviate.

 Rosalie
This textile is just as eye catching as any of CB’s collections.  The soft wool cloth with punched out motifs is suitable for curtaining and throws.
Vidaflora
Vidalflora is true pizazz.  With its velour stripes, it harmonized beautifully to create a brilliant combination.  In fact, the entire collection from Création Baumann is absolutely exciting, since they only use first rate combination of the most diverse weaves, designs and colors.
to the trade only

Hermès Furniture Collection

Updates on the Milan International Furniture Show
How on earth did I forget to mention this on my last post?!  French luxury brand, Hermès, has unveil their first ever furniture line at the show this week. Who are the designers behind this grand coup?

Enzo Mari, an influential figure in Italian design, has designed a line of living room furniture, the dining room furniture line comes from Anthonio Citterio, and Denis Montel, who has been working with Hermès since 1978, teamed up with with Eric Benque to co-designed a chair that Hermes called its signature object.  The collection will be available in select Hermès stores, starting September 2011. In addition, Hermès partnered with Debar to present an absolutely stunning range of fabrics, wallpaper and carpets.
Note:  A short video of the fair can be found here

Top Design Trends from Milan

I Saloni is 50 years young this year, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at the design trends that keep trickling down each year at this iconic luxury design trade show. Planning to attend? You’re in for a treat since you’ll be able to touch, marvel, and experience the world’s best furniture design.
I Saloni is where you’ll find a variety of furniture and accessories – from classical to modern. With an increasing audience each year, no wonder this is the quaintessial place where you’ll find firsthand, the trendsetters of tomorrow.