Brutalist Furniture Mirrors Our Times

I very much like the lines and curves of fiberglass Herman Miller chairs in tandem with the sleek lines of an upholstered Danish modern Hans Olsen sofa.  However, anything that smacks of the Brutalist style gets my full attention. The heavily textured style of architecture, furniture, lighting and sculpture from the 1950’s through the early 1970’s is an attention grabber.  In the way of furniture and lamps Paul Evans (1931-1987) was by far the absolute best designer.  Today his creations regularly fetch $10,000.00 to $50,000.00. 

On the other hand, mainstream furniture companies from the mid century modern period, like the Lane Furniture Company, created their own economy priced models of Brutalist furniture. 

After 50 years these are still very relevant and interesting pieces.  They are complicated, textured, angular, hard but beautiful with an edge.  I feel that they mirror today’s culture perfectly.  Who would have known back then that they would be predictors of present day culture?

Atomic Clock at Todd Farm Flea Market

It was near dawn on what would be a sunny autumn Sunday. The sign at the edge of the gravel lane read Todd Farm Flea Market. Yes, we have arrived. We turned in and then onto a frost covered field that was serving as a makeshift parking lot.  The sun was just coming up over the trees but the place was already buzzing with activity.

Dealers, peddlers and con-men were setting up their tables and blankets on the frosty lawn to show off and offer their goods.  As the air warmed we slid into the action by walking up and down all the lanes looking over all the brick-a-brac, vintage clothes, new and old furniture, records, radios and all the junk you could ever imagine.  There seemed to be about 200 hundred flea market vendors here.  Any treasure? Yes, I was stopped by a twinkle of light that bounced off of a very radical looking desk clock that apparently had been living in limbo, outer space, or in a box in an attic since the early 1950’s. It was in nearly mint condition.  As the saying goes, it spoke to me. I had to have it.  I sized up the peddler; boots, jeans, a very faded navy and red flannel shirt over a dirty white sweatshirt, topped off with a Red Sox baseball cap. “How much for the clock” I ask.

After waiting what felt like days for him to respond he spoke…”fifteen dollars”

I looked away then down then back at him. “Would you take five?” I asked.  I wait for his response.  Again, I suffer another long silence.  “Seven, I’ll take seven.” I count out seven one dollar bills as he gently puts my new treasure into a re-cycled grocery bag.  I smile, thank him and slip back into the crowd with my Atomic / "The Jetsons" style clock and I'm still smiling.

See more accessories at www.gre-stuff.com

Iconic Modernist Furniture Designers

Adrian Pearsall 2011, Charles Ames 1978, his wife Ray 1988, Harry Bertoia 1978.  Arne Jacobsen 1971, George Nelson 1986, Paul McCobb 1969, Eero Saarinen 1961, Harvey Probber 2003, just to name a few, were all iconic furniture designers from the mid century modern and Danish modern periods.  All are deceased; their design craft has stopped.  However, the excitement, energy and magic that they created with their work lives on in each piece that survives today.  

How does such magic happen?  How can a 60 year old couch, credenza, lamp or table touch our hearts?  Why do they still excite? Why do they still energize?  How do they make us feel brand new?  Will our craving of their craft ever be satiated?  I hope not.
See some of those pieces at www.gre-stuff.com

Lane Acclaim Coffee Table

Responding to a call to rescue a few “vintage pieces” we climb into our van and drive west through the New England landscape. Our vehicle becomes a time machine as we glide through small farm and factory towns that have not changed in nearly 100 plus years. We pull into the driveway of a small modest home in the small New England town of Canaan, located in the North West corner of Connecticut.  We are here to rescue, among other pieces, a handsome coffee table from the Lane furniture company. 

We are greeted at the door by a family member and ushered into a dark den where we are introduced to a 1960’s coffee table by Lane, from the Acclaim Dovetail series. Lane started the “Acclaim” line in 1959 it was the best selling line of furniture in 1963. The handsome piece was made of walnut and contrasting oak and featured tapered Danish style legs, and a signature over sized dovetail design on top. The Iconic mid century modern table includes American made durability and required little restoration. 

I’m happy to say that this great mid century modern piece has a new home on the other side of the country.  It proudly sits in a wonderful home in Scott’s Valley California a mere 3,000 miles from Canaan Ct.  Another great piece that was lost to the past, rescued and brought into the light of today.    

Frederic Weinberg / Arthur Umanoff Stools

As I’m directed to the basement of this 1950’s cap cod style home I’m reminded of Indiana Jones looking for great treasure in great tombs.  I flip the light switch to on at the top of the stairs but only the steps are illuminated. Fortunately my vintage stainless steel flashlight is at the ready.  The beam of the 50 plus year old flashlight picks up the stair tread. The steps are covered in black with white fleck linoleum tile.  I move down the stairs and reach the bottom step.  I pause here and before stepping off onto the floor I swing the flashlight around the dark, dusty space. The walls are covered with 1960’s paneling. It’s a low ceiling with recessed lighting. The floor, what I can see of it, is the same black and white flecked linoleum tile. A layer of dust blankets everything. There is a smell here of things old, ignored and forgotten. The proof of life surrounds me here. How long has all this stuff been down here I wonder. The entire space is occupied by stacks, racks, piles, boxes and containers of a family’s life. I will scour through these gems in just a moment.  However, first I must dig out what the flashlight beam has detected as vinyl covered stools. With a closer examination I uncover seven sets of black metal hairpin legs supporting two tone vinyl seats. They are either Frederic Weinberg or Arthur Umanoff designs.  Both are names of well known designers from the mid century modern period.  So, seven stools, seven trips through the dark basement, up the stairs and out into the light of the front yard. I know that the new light that falls across these stools promises them and me a new tomorrow.  With this empirical knowledge I turn and return to the basement with the promise of more treasure.

New inventory

Give it a good home

From families and acquaintances I regularly hear “I know you’ll give it a good home”.

Or sometimes before they are let go the family history that surrounds the piece will be volunteered to me. At times I even detect a bit of sadness as the mid century and Danish modern pieces are transferred to my possession.  I suppose that the sadness comes from loosing the proof that these touchstones provide.  They are the tangible proof of a family’s memories.  Now the previous owners must depend on their memories alone and we all know that they fade away or become fuzzy over time.  However, these wonderful pieces are now going to be lovingly restored and become whole again. They will become touchstones again and secure another lifetime of memories for the lucky ones that discover them.   

This is a living space

The other day I was sitting quietly in my warehouse surrounded by my mid century modern pieces.  I know that they are all 50 plus year’s old but on that day the obvious info struck me on a deeper level.  I realized that they are connected to each other, related to each other by way of a similar time and place but most of all they are related to each other by similar life experiences. On more than one occasion I have gone through desk drawers and found school assignments from children, letters from lovers in dressers and check stubs in a dad’s old bureau and sometimes from her; hosiery and hairpins in vanities. And on selected days, only known by the pieces in the room, the smell of furniture oil, talcum powder, Old Spice or pipe tobacco will linger in the air. I suppose over time these scents of life worked themselves into the pores and grain of the wood, metal and fabric much like into the flesh of our selves.  Every day these pieces reveal to me who they are and where they came from. This is a living space.