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2007 News

October 2008

Midcentury Investment Pieces
Investment furniture, lighting and accessories need first to be useful and comfortable. We also demand they be aesthetically pleasing. If chosen carefully, many Midcentury pieces increase in value. Why? First, there is continued high demand. Second, they are difficult to find and third, they evoke a modern sensibility which we find sexy and attractive. Charles and Ray Eames are forever young. George Nelson makes us feel focused and organized. Milo Baughman lures us with luxurious materials. Tommy Parzinger makes any room feel glamorous. Harry Bertoia amazes us with the infinite possibility of shapes. Gaetano Pesche is playful in satirizing our modern condition. Edward Wormley is understated and elegant. Poul Henningsen brings sculptural definition to lighting. Arne Jacobsen pushes the useful to beauty beyond utility. Paul McCobb combines wood, metal and stone gracefully. Florence Knoll insists on timelessness in wood, metal and fabric. Finn Juhl's world's most beautiful chair is shown in museums and designated by only a number. Investment pieces are not necessarily the most expensive Midcentury pieces. They do, however, have memorable design which attracts iconic worship from all segments of the population. Investment pieces are tangible evidence of money well spent which keep appreciating while giving satisfaction and comfort. Following are some examples of Midcentury investment pieces which have dramatically increased in value and are likely to continue to do so.

#1 Florence Knoll --Saarinen Table, 1950s

#2 Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin Three Seat Mohair Sofa, 1960s

#3 Paul McCobb Planner Group Occasional Side Chairs, 1950s

# 4 Gaetano Pesche 543 Broadway #2 Chairs, 1993

#5 Charles Eames for Herman Miller 2x2 Storage Unit System, 1949

#6 George Nelson Desk and Credenza for Herman Miller, 1950s

#7 Florence Knoll Casepiece- Credenza, 1950s

#8 Charles Eames for Herman Miller Lounge & Ottoman, 1970

#9 Edward Wormley for Dunbar Little John Coffee Table, 1950s

#10 Arne Jacobsen Rosewood Coffee Table, 1950s

# 11 Poul Henningsen Three-Tier Table Lamp, 1960s

#12 Achille Castiglione for Artemide Arco Lamp, 1962

# 13 Glenn of California Arcadia Series Rosewood Casepiece/ Server, 1960s

#14 Harry Bertoia's Chrome Diamond Lounge Chair, 1980

# 15 Tommy Parzinger's Eight Arm Bronze Chandelier, 1960s

# 16 Finn Juhl # 45 Lounge Chair, 1950s

August 2008

What Makes A House A Home?
As summer wanes, more and more people are hunting and gathering accessories which personalize their living space. Any object which is not mass produced, unusual in craftsmanship, agile in space or pleasingly tactile gives a room a presence and conversational cache. There is a fascination with handmade toys, Americana, industrial objects, salesman samples and other curiosities. Complete Erector Sets from the late 1930s through the 1950s are in high demand. Midcentury designers in both Europe and the USA not only created furniture and lighting but often lent their talents to designing games, toys, household items, mobiles and unique pieces. Gio Ponti, Fornasetti, Charles and Ray Eames, Charles Hollis Jones, George Nelson, Gaetano Pesche, Mategot, Phillipe Stark, Paul McCobb, Karl Springer, Raymond Loewy, Gae Aulenti, Carl Aubock, Charlotte Perriand, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Lucienne and Robin Day and Shiro Kuramata, and Carlo of Hollywood are just a few examples of many versatile designers. Metro Modern just may have the piece you are yearning for but haven't seen yet. Stop by and touch something.

# 1 Lucite Galactic Landscape Pyramids, artist unknown, 1970s

# 2 Weltron Moonscape Portable Radio & 8 Track Player, 1960s

#3 Aluminum Mobile, artist unknown, 1960s

#4 Michelangelo's David Wall Hanging Puzzle Sculpture by Massimo Roberto, 1960s

#5 Whimsical Metal Wall Sculpture of Horse and Airplane by J.Lynn, 1950s

#6 Handcrafted Americana, Sawyer Whirlygig, artist unknown, 1950s

#7 Handcrafted Americana, Rocking Giraffe, artist unknown, 1950s

#8 Lucite and Wood Puzzles, manufactured by Mattel, Fisher, Playworld Toys, 1970s

#9 Lucite Paperweights, mass production, 1970s

# 10 Carlo of Hollywood, Egyptian, 1950s -- strange and intriguing frames

#11 Surveyor's Measure Stick & Target, manufactured by Gurley, 1960s

#12 Raised Ranch Playhouse model of Brady Bunch house, 1969

#13 Chrome Jacks, Italy 1970s

#14 Monumental Marble Ear Bookends, Italy 1950s

#15 Carrom Board Game, USA late 1940s

#16 Erector Set, Merry-Go- Round, motorized, manufactured by A.C. Gilbert Co., 1950s

May 2008

Metro Modern is proud to showcase a small grouping of ceramics by Richmond collector, KENT BRYANT. What started as a small interest for Bryant, quickly became passionate acquisition, demonstrating both depth and breadth in his collection. In less than a decade, Bryant has accumulated so much information and provenance on each piece acquired, making him a knowledgeable and valuable expert in ceramics. Some of the ceramic pieces are by established ceramicists while others were designed by avant garde artists who pushed ceramics into new design. Pottery displayed in the store offers but a sampling of many pieces designed by specific artists for various ceramic studios. Represented in the collection are Raymor, Monterey Jade, Royal Copenhagen, Rosenthal, Hyalyn, Soholm, Franciscan. The collection includes spatterware, lava, metallic, sgraffitto, high glaze, matte, etched or combinations created during late 1930s through the 1970s.

 

We just got back from a buying trip in LA, San Diego and Palm Springs early in January. Wow! Style is sure different from the East Coast. Some pieces we yearned to own but resisted. Others we had to buy. What are dealers and buyers collecting on the West Coast? First, an extensive revival and offerings of California artisans and artists from 1940s-1970s escalated by LAMA's Fall Auction in 2007. Wall Macrame and Weavings from the late 1960s and early 1970s! Wood sculptures in every size. Metal wall sculptures. Ceramic wall sculptures. Sculpted metal furniture. Italian and French lighting of every kind. Italian and French chrome furniture. Hollywood Regency furniture--Billy Haines, Duquette, Monteverdi Young & James Mont. Italian wood and leather furniture from the early 1950s to 1970s like Osvaldo Borsani, Franco Albini to Cassina and De Sede from France and Switzerland. Organic and modern Danish furniture, especially Poul Kjaerholm is sought. George Nelson & Florence Knoll. Milo Baughman is hot! Furniture prototypes. Murano glass is still relatively inexpensive. German & Japanese ceramics from 1960s & 1970s are appearing everywhere. Lucite furniture is highly desirable--especially by Charles Hollis Jones. People are mixing all kinds of pieces. Fun pieces, amusing pieces and anything that adds glam and interest to one's decor.

Palm Springs

California Artist Wall Weaving # 1

California Artist Macrame # 2

Wood Sculpture # 3

Wall Metal Sculpture # 4

Wall Metal Sculpture # 5

California Artist Wall Ceramic Sculpture # 6

Italian Metal & Marble Coffee Table # 7

American Sculpted Metal & Glass Table # 8

Italian Lighting # 9

French Lighting # 10

Italian Serpente Lighting # 11

French Bagues Chrome Table & Habitat Lighting # 13

Milo Baughman Chrome & Glass Coffee Table # 14

Milgo Baughman Tufted Sofa # 15

French De Sede Chair & Ottoman #16

American & Italian Ceramics # 17

German Ceramics # 18

Charles Hollis Jones Lucite Chairs # 19