Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Vanishing art

Most of us are so accustomed to firing off a quick email from the computer at our utilitarian desks that we forget people in the mid-Twentieth century sat at exquisitely crafted pieces of furniture and composed letters by hand with elegant instruments called fountain pens.

I hope these beautiful desks, along with a glimpse of an extremely rare Parker T-1, will inspire you to pick up a pen and write a note to someone you love.

Images from 1stdibs.com unless otherwise noted
Extremely rare titanium Parker T-1
fastcompany.com
Arne Vodder
Bullet-shaped Danish teak, designer unknown
Edward Wormley
George Nakashima
Hans Wegner
Ib Kofod-Larsen
Jens Risom
Kidney-shaped Danish with tambour doors, designer unknown
Milo Baughman
Nanna Ditzel
T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Vladimir Kagan
Walnut desk with tambour doors, designer unknown
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10 comments:

  1. chairsmithNovember 2, 2011 at 7:23 AM

    We do like the Ib Kofod-Larsen desk with its floating writing surface. It's interesting that you've credited the designer, as here in the UK this desk would merely fall under the 'G-Plan' umbrella as far as any description of the piece goes.

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  2. Tanya from Dans le LakehouseNovember 2, 2011 at 9:20 AM

    Ooooo, do love those desks. I love how uncluttered the offices are in Mad Men. My desk has a gazillion wires, a printer, monitor, keyboard, mouse, laptop, lamp, papers, pens. BAH. I'd love a vintage desk with one pen and a notebook. Ahhhhh. Simple.

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  3. SudhaNovember 2, 2011 at 10:50 AM

    lovely desks....such exquisite craftsmanship and luxuriously made pieces :)

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  4. Dana@Mid2ModNovember 2, 2011 at 2:12 PM

    @chairsmith: A good bit of G-Plan shows up in our area (as well as Remploy and Nathan). We've found that the pieces designed by Kofod-Larsen sell best. There's a real interest in his work lately, and we just got two of his shell back chairs with iron legs, which we're restoring. I'll post about them soon.

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  5. Dana@Mid2ModNovember 2, 2011 at 2:17 PM

    @Tanya: I fought that clutter for years, and I finally went wireless and moved my printer to another room. Now all I have on my desk is my laptop, a vase and a plant...plus the omnipresent Diet Coke can that follows me everywhere. :)

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  6. Dana@Mid2ModNovember 2, 2011 at 2:19 PM

    @Sudha: It's sad to think that owning a desk like one of these is the exception in today's homes, rather than the rule.

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  7. nickarmadilloNovember 2, 2011 at 5:51 PM

    People back then just knew how to make everything look so classy.

    The things I'd do for that Arne Vodder ...

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  8. Dana@Mid2ModNovember 2, 2011 at 6:15 PM

    @Nick: I agree. I shudder to think what this era will be remembered for. Or will any of the throw-away furniture being sold today even survive? One can only hope.

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  9. Ton S. November 4, 2011 at 7:36 PM

    Fantastic, all of them!
    My Top 2- Hans Wegner and T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings.

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  10. Dana@Mid2ModNovember 5, 2011 at 12:55 AM

    @I dream lo-tech: I find it hard to narrow it down to two...but there's something about the Nanna Ditzel and the Vladimir Kagan that I love.

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