| Press Contact: | Jane Prentiss, Director | Catherine Riedel, Director |
| 20th Century Furniture & | Marketing & Public Relations | |
| Decorative Arts | Skinner, Inc | |
|
978-779-6241 ext. 253 |
978-779-6241 x231 |
SEAGRAM COLLECTION TO HIGHLIGHT
20th CENTURY FURNITURE & DECORATIVE ARTS AT SKINNER
BOSTON, Mass. - June 2, 2004 – www.skinnerinc.com - Skinner, one of the nation's leading auction houses, will host an auction of 20th Century Furniture and Decorative Arts at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 19th, in the Boston gallery. Highlights will include the Seagram Collection of furniture, once located in the Seagram Building, an icon of 20th-century architecture located on Park Avenue in New York City.
The Seagram Collection
Housed in the building Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed in collaboration with Phillip Johnson in 1957, this extensive collection was located on the eight floors that Seagram Company occupied for 45 years. BRNO, Barcelona, MR, and Tugendhat chairs are a few of the Mies van der Rohe designs being offered. Marble and stainless steel tables designed by Pasanella and Klien also graced the spacious rooms finished in travertine marble and book-matched veneered walls. Other classic designs include chairs by Charles and Ray Eames, manufactured by Herman Miller. The open-weave curtains that adorned the wide windows overlooking Park Avenue are also included for auction. Ezra Stoller, acclaimed photographer, was commissioned to take interior and exterior views of the building; an enlarged photograph of the Park Avenue building and streetscape will be included in the offerings.
Additional Highlights
The auction also features the Walfred Robert Moisio Collection of photography (lots 127-134). Mr. Moisio was a photography instructor in the Art Education Division of the Works Progress Administration, whose street images artfully capture many cultural and historical events of the 1930s and '40s. The presentation of this material marks the first release of the artist's work in decades, as it has been in storage since 1965.
In keeping with the tribute to designs of the 20th century, this auction also includes select items of furniture, pottery, and metalwork from the Arts and Crafts Movement, highlighted by a silver and enamel box by Elizabeth Copeland, an exhibitor at the Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston (lot 172). Art Pottery features Marblehead, SEG, and Grueby examples, as well as a collection of works by George Ohr (lots 219-225).
The decorative selection of French Art Deco offers lighting, furniture, and textiles, in addition to pottery by various makers. Mid-century designs include two Hans Wegner lounge chairs, and a Nakashima lounge chair and ottoman (lot 278). An interesting collection of Japanese pottery used in the flower arranging art of Ikebana adds a graphic dimension to this auction, and for the Studio Pottery collector, a bowl by Dame Lucie Rie will definitely draw interest.
The designs of Louis Comfort Tiffany are well represented in the sale. Highlights will include a marble bench with an inlaid mosaic of iridescent glass (lot 346, unsigned), paintings by the artist, and a selection of Art Glass from the Louis B. Schaeffer Collection. A Tiffany Dragonfly table lamp, lot 333, leads the lamp offerings.
For the crowd interested in the unusual, an RCA Victor phonograph made of aluminum by John Vassos in the mid-1930s (lot 72) will be among the attractions.
Previews and Catalogue Information
Previews for the auction will be 12 to 5 p.m. Thursday, June 17th, 12 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 18th, and 8 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 19th. Illustrated catalogue #2244 is available by mail for $32 ($39 for foreign requests) from the subscription department at 978-779-6241 x240. It is also available at the gallery for $29. Prices realized will be available at www.skinnerinc.com during and after the sale. For more information on the auction, or auction preview times, visit Skinner's website at www.skinnerinc.com. Skinner's site also allows users to view all lots in the auctions, leave bids, and order catalogues online.
Note to Editors: Photos available upon request. Contact Catherine Riedel at 978-779-6241 x 231.
About Skinner:With galleries in Boston and Bolton, Mass., Skinner is a full-service auctioneer and appraiser of antiques and fine art. Regularly seen on the PBS series, Antiques Roadshow, Skinner is one of the nation’s leading auction houses. Skinner conducts auctions year-round and has received world-record prices for many pieces sold at auction. Departments include American Furniture & Decorative Arts, Paintings & Prints, English & Continental Furniture & Decorations, Fine Ceramics, Jewelry, Couture, 20th Century Furniture & Decorative Arts, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Art, Fine Judaica, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Science & Technology, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographica, and Discovery. For more information on upcoming auctions, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com.