Marcel Breuer Furniture from Stillman I, II, and III

Modern master Marcel Breuer studied and taught at the Bauhaus in the 1920s, and during this time he pioneered steel tubular furniture.  Later in his career he would go on to explore wood to create innovative furniture.  LAMA has the honor to offer four lots of Marcel Breuer furniture from the famous Stillman I, II, and III Residences in the upcoming May 23, 2010 Modern Art & Design Auction.

From the late 1940s until his death in 1981, Marcel Breuer created half a dozen buildings and projects for Rufus Stillman, including three homes in Litchfield, Connecticut. In 1949 the Stillman’s began searching for an appropriate architect to build their home. During this search the Stillman’s asked the advice of Architecture Department at MoMA, which led them to Breuer. In 1950 Breuer completed Stillman I, a rectangular formation with protruding porches that stood out among the colonial constructions in Litchfield.  Additionally, Breuer designed furniture for the Stillman’s homes and office buildings.

The following four lots are examples of wooden tables (one incorporates slate) designed for function and utility, and have been used by the Stillman family for over sixty years.

Lot 43
Marcel Breuer
Dining Table
Custom, designed ca. 1970
Square top in 2” wood laminate overhanging a black painted wooden base
27 x 54 x 54 inches
This table was designed for Stillman III and was brought back to Stillman I when the couple bought the house back in the early 1980s.
Provenance: Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Stillman
Estimate: $15,000 – 20,000

Lot 44
Marcel Breuer
Coffee Table
Custom, ca. 1965
Laminated maple and black painted wood table
13 1/2 x 36 x 36 inches
This table was designed for Stillman II in the same style as the earlier table.
Provenance: Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Stillman
Estimate: $9,000 – 12,000

Lot 45
Marcel Breuer
Dining Table
Custom, designed ca. 1970s
Rectangular top in 2” wood overhanging and raised on a painted wooden base
29 x 72 x 36inches
This table was designed for one of Rufus Stillman’s offices at the Torin Corporation.
Provenance: Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Stillman
Estimate: $15,000 – 20,000

Lot 46
Marcel Breuer
Coffee Table
Custom, designed ca. 1950
Raised table top of 1 1/2 “ dark gray slate overhanging and raised on a square base of stained wood
13 1/2 x 36 x 36 inches
This table was designed for Stillman I and went with the couple to each of their residences.
Provenance: Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Stillman
Estimate: $9,000 – 12,000

A. Quincy Jones and Fredrick Emmons: AIA Firm of the Year Award 1969 and ‘Builders’ Homes for Better Living’

A. Quincy Jones and Fredrick E. Emmons collaborated on numerous architectural projects from 1951 till Emmons’ death in 1974. Jones and Emmons worked together to produce thousands of Eichler homes, and received commissions for churches, universities, manufacturing plants, and libraries. They worked with new materials, were very aware of site design, and focused attention on the building user. They took advantage of the pre-fabricated industrial parts and materials of the time and fused the idea of custom-designed and retailer-designed homes, making homes both affordable and livable for post-war middle class Americans.  Jones and Emmons also worked together with John L. Chapman to produce a book titled ‘Builders’ Homes for Better Living’ (Reinhold Publishing), which explored the assumption that basic architectural elements were important to the builder and to the buyer . LAMA is offering for purchase a copy of this book from the A. Quincy Jones and Elaine Sewell Jones collection in the upcoming May 23, 2010 Auction, as well as the structure built to award A. Quincy Jones and Fredrick E. Emmons for their outstanding architectural achievements as the Firm of the Year in 1969. The structure archives important collaborative projects between Jones and Emmons, and showcases photographs shot by Julius Shulman of each of these projects.

Literature: From the pages of the Eichler Network newsletter by Cory Buckner

For further information or inquiries regarding these important architectural pieces, please email elizabeth@lamodern.com directly.

A. Quincy Jones and Fredrick E. Emmons AIA Firm of the Year Award 1969, To be offered in LAMA May 23, 2010 Modern Art & Design Auction

Builders' Homes for Better Living by A. Quincy Jones, Fredrick E. Emmons and John L. Chapman, To be offered in LAMA May 23, 2010 Modern Art & Design Auction

Chapter 1 from Builders' Homes for Better Living by A. Quincy Jones, Fredrick E. Emmons and John L. Chapman, To be offered in LAMA May 23, 2010 Modern Art & Design Auction