Robert Finkle is the only architect I have worked for who had
original Mies furniture pieces in his barn. They will come to auction at
Christie's in New York on April 12th.
To quote the NY Times, March 6th, "Furniture from the Mind of an
Architect" by Rita Reif " Mies van der Rohe not only designed tables, a
chair and a stool for Philip Johnson; he gave him inspiration" - all this at
the age of 24(Johnson). "Now ,67 years later, five pieces made for Mr.
Johnson's apartment, on East 52nd Street, will come on the market for the
first time- Christie's is auctioning the furniture for Robert Melik Finkle,
a Vermont architect, who had worked for Mr. Johnson for more than a year in
the late 50's. When Mr. Finkle decided to complete his studies at Yale
University, Mr. Johnson gave him the pieces to furnish his apartment in New
Haven.
- - A self-effacing man whose work was then virtually unknown in
America, Mies van der Rohe largely depended on others to promote his
designs. But his impact on others was considerable as well. The Johnson's
apartment, for example was in many ways as important to Mr. Johnson's career
as it was to Mies van der Rohe's.
Photographs of that apartment received wide circulation in
architectural and design magazines after they appeared in "Modern
Architecture: International Exhibition", a 1932 show at the Modern, which
Mr. Johnson organized with the architectural historian Henry-Russell
Hitchcock, that defined the International Style. After that exhibition Mr.
Johnson was named director of the Modern's department of architecture.
Later, after he became an architect, Mr. Johnson continued to
popularize Mies van der Rohe's furniture in later projects, including the
Seagram Building on Park Avenue (a building designed by Mies van der Rohe)
and in the Four Seasons restaurant at the base of the Seagram Building.
Curiously, if Mies and Mr.Johnson had never met in l930, Mr.
Johnson's architecture - and certainly his apartment - would have been
different -before Mr. Johnson's trip to Europe (1930), he had decided to
hire Donald Deskey to do his apartment. Mr. Deskey was then designing the
Art Deco furnishings for Radio City Music Hall.
S i l v i L a w r e n c e
Facility Design Services
Pennsylvania State University
Physical Plant Building Fax:814-865-3737
University Park, Pa. l6802 voice:814-865-7605
original Mies furniture pieces in his barn. They will come to auction at
Christie's in New York on April 12th.
To quote the NY Times, March 6th, "Furniture from the Mind of an
Architect" by Rita Reif " Mies van der Rohe not only designed tables, a
chair and a stool for Philip Johnson; he gave him inspiration" - all this at
the age of 24(Johnson). "Now ,67 years later, five pieces made for Mr.
Johnson's apartment, on East 52nd Street, will come on the market for the
first time- Christie's is auctioning the furniture for Robert Melik Finkle,
a Vermont architect, who had worked for Mr. Johnson for more than a year in
the late 50's. When Mr. Finkle decided to complete his studies at Yale
University, Mr. Johnson gave him the pieces to furnish his apartment in New
Haven.
- - A self-effacing man whose work was then virtually unknown in
America, Mies van der Rohe largely depended on others to promote his
designs. But his impact on others was considerable as well. The Johnson's
apartment, for example was in many ways as important to Mr. Johnson's career
as it was to Mies van der Rohe's.
Photographs of that apartment received wide circulation in
architectural and design magazines after they appeared in "Modern
Architecture: International Exhibition", a 1932 show at the Modern, which
Mr. Johnson organized with the architectural historian Henry-Russell
Hitchcock, that defined the International Style. After that exhibition Mr.
Johnson was named director of the Modern's department of architecture.
Later, after he became an architect, Mr. Johnson continued to
popularize Mies van der Rohe's furniture in later projects, including the
Seagram Building on Park Avenue (a building designed by Mies van der Rohe)
and in the Four Seasons restaurant at the base of the Seagram Building.
Curiously, if Mies and Mr.Johnson had never met in l930, Mr.
Johnson's architecture - and certainly his apartment - would have been
different -before Mr. Johnson's trip to Europe (1930), he had decided to
hire Donald Deskey to do his apartment. Mr. Deskey was then designing the
Art Deco furnishings for Radio City Music Hall.
S i l v i L a w r e n c e
Facility Design Services
Pennsylvania State University
Physical Plant Building Fax:814-865-3737
University Park, Pa. l6802 voice:814-865-7605