100 Masterpieces from the Vitra Design Museum Collection Paperback – September 30, 2013

Love the book, love the collection of chairs!

Fabulous book! Nice description of these iconic furniture from the Vitra collection. Good resource to learn the genesis of the design for each example.

Great item speedily delivered.

This book showcases 100 pieces of mid-century modern furniture from the Vitra Design Museum's collection. Each piece is featured in a double-page spread: on the right is a full-page color photo of the piece against a neutral background, and on the left is brief description of the piece and additional black-and-white illustrations. Each description identifies the designer, describes the materials and construction of the piece, and, where applicable, notes the commercial success of the piece. Additional detail is often provided about the designer's influences and intentions, in many cases including quotes from the designer. The black-and-white illustrations include original advertisements, drawings and sketches, and period photographs of interiors, the furniture under construction, and artwork that influenced the designer. Chairs predominate the selection of objects, but there are some tables, bookshelves and storage units. Highly recommended for any furniture or design collection.

The exhibition detailed in this book opened January 16 at the Allentown (Pensylvania) Art Museum and runs through April 9, 2000. This was my first and very pleasant visit to this museum. While I was familiar with many of these design icons (mainly chairs) it was fun to see original bent-wood Hoffmans; pony, latex, carbon fiber, stainless wire and goose-down filled leather adapted to the human rear; and perhaps the most striking if surely uncomfortable object, the MN-01 LC1, Lockheed Lounge, by Marc Newson (imagine reclining on the fuselage of a DC3). Most appealing to me must be the Supperleggera (Super-lightweight) #699 by Gio Ponti, manufactured by Cassina. Ebonized triangular ash legs with a delicately woven cane seat must surely reward the sitter with a feeling of some early Ferrari. Stupidly, the items which are still produced are not available to try out--it is all "no touch." I flipped through this '100 Masterpieces' book and it looks thorough, with detailed text to accompany the excellent photos. On a related note I recently read and enjoyed Chairman Rolf, produced by Tibor Kalman, which depicts the eccentric genius behind Vitra, Rolf Fehlbaum. Also on exhibit at this museum are: 1. Harry Bertoia's Monoprints. He worked with Charles and Ray Eames and later headed Knoll's design department....his chair #422 is in the Vitra exhibit. 2. the Little Library designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (the living room sits in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY). Allentown Art Museum, Fifth & Court Streets, Allentown, PA 610.432-4333, ext.10.