Items Similar to 2 Midcentury Organic Modern / Sculptures/ Lounge Chairs, Frederick Kiesler, 1947
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 12
2 Midcentury Organic Modern / Sculptures/ Lounge Chairs, Frederick Kiesler, 1947
$14,700per item
£11,159.99per item
€12,764.65per item
CA$20,538.03per item
A$22,842.77per item
CHF 11,927.79per item
MX$277,972.27per item
NOK 152,336.04per item
SEK 142,864.33per item
DKK 95,267.45per item
Quantity
Shipping
Retrieving quote...The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation
About the Item
Two Rare Organic Modernist Sculptures that also function as lounge chairs and attributed to the European-American artist, sculptor and designer, Frederick Kiesler (born in Ukraine, 1890-1965). The pieces are hand crafted and composed of thick, layered and molded oak plywood and then hand lacquered. The works are important and signify the development of post-war design into abstract biomorphic sculptural forms. They occupy a curving, organic space and their negative space conveys transparency, lightness and airiness.They represent the continuity between art and life, movement and sculpture. The artist, Frederick Kiesler designed variant sculptural "Multi-Use Chairs" for Robert Motherwell's home in Provincetown circa 1947. The pieces are priced and sold individually but can also be purchased as a pair. An accompanying sculptural, organic form bench / stool / ottoman is also available and priced separately (see last photo).
***
A short biography: "Throughout his career, Frederick Kiesler worked across mediums. He believed that “sculpture, painting, architecture should not be used as wedges to split our experience of art and life; they are here to link, to correlate, to bind dream and reality.”1 After studying painting and printmaking in Vienna in the early 1900s, he became known in Europe for his inventive stage designs, featuring mirrors and projections. In the course of working on these projects, he met and at times collaborated with artists such as El Lissitzky and László Moholy-Nagy. In 1923, Dutch artist Theo van Doesburg invited him to join de Stijl, making him the group’s youngest member.
In 1926, after traveling to New York to co-organize the International Theatre Exposition at Steinway Hall, Kiesler and his wife immigrated to the United States and settled in the city. There, Kiesler helped spread the ideas of the European avant-garde, such as non-objective painting, abstraction, and the merging of art and life. He found work as a professor at Columbia University’s School of Architecture and as the director of scenic design at the Juilliard School of Music. In 1942, he was chosen to design collector and art dealer Peggy Guggenheim’s Art of This Century Gallery in New York, for which he planned every aspect, from an innovative method of installing paintings to its lighting, sculpture stands, and seating. In 1947, he designed the installation Salle Superstition for the Exposition Internationale du Surréalisme, organized by Marcel Duchamp and André Breton at the Galerie Maeght in Paris. In this exhibition, Kiesler also displayed his first work of sculpture, Totem for All Religions, a wood-and-rope construction that stands more than nine feet tall and simultaneously evokes a totem pole, a crucifix, and various astronomical symbols.
Kiesler’s longest-running project was Endless House, a single-family dwelling whose biomorphic form and lack of corners strongly contrasted with the hard geometric edges that defined most modern architecture of the time. He sought to design a structure responsive to the occupants’ functional and spiritual requirements. He developed his ideas for the house over several decades, creating numerous sketches and models. Although plans were made to build a to-scale model in MoMA’s Sculpture Garden in 1958, they did not materialize, and the project remains unrealized. Nonetheless, Kiesler’s Endless House concept was highly influential and stands as a strong expression of his bold statement: “Form does not follow function. Function follows vision. Vision follows reality.”
Lily Goldberg, Collection Specialist, Department of Painting and Sculpture, MOMA, 2016
- Attributed to:Frederick John Kiesler (Artist)
- Dimensions:Height: 25.5 in (64.77 cm)Width: 18.88 in (47.96 cm)Depth: 35.5 in (90.17 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1947
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: S31stDibs: LU79357181563
About the Seller
5.0
Gold Seller
Premium sellers maintaining a 4.3+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 1997
1stDibs seller since 2004
225 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
Associations
20th Century Specialists
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: New York, NY
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllRare Organic Modern Sculpture / Bench Attributed to Frederick Kiesler circa 1947
By Frederick John Kiesler
Located in New York, NY
A Rare sculpture / organic modern bench in thick, layered and molded plywood attributed to the European-American artist, sculptor, designer, Frederick J. Kiesler (born in Ukraine, 1890-1965) circa 1947. The works are important and signify the development of post-war design into abstract biomorphic sculptural forms. They occupy a curving, organic space and their negative space conveys transparency, lightness and airiness.They represent the continuity between art and life, movement and sculpture. Frederick Kiesler designed variant sculptural organic form chairs...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Organic Modern Benches
Materials
Oak, Plywood
Rare Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern / Space Age Lounge Chairs by IPE
Located in New York, NY
Important and ultra-cool pair of Italian Space Age / Mid-Century Modern armchairs known as 'Brevetti' by the boutique Italian (Bologna) company of IPE.
These rare chairs feature a ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Upholstery
Pair of French Organic Modern Leather Lounge Chairs & Ottoman, Pierre Paulin
By Pierre Paulin
Located in New York, NY
A Rare and Important Set of 2 French Mid-Century Organic Modern armchairs / Lounge Chairs and 1 Ottoman / Bench / Stool in a legendary Futurist form. All the pieces are covered in a ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Faux Leather
$10,200 Sale Price / set
30% Off
Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern, Cantilevered Lounge Chairs, Augusto Bozzi
By Augusto Bozzi
Located in New York, NY
Elegant pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern, cantilevered lounge chairs attributed to Augusto Bozzi. The chairs feature an innovative architectural structure and transparent aesthetic...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Steel
Rare Pair of Mid-Century Modern Triennale Lounge Chairs, Marco Zanuso Italy 1951
By Arflex, Marco Zanuso
Located in New York, NY
A rare and important pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern Triennale charis by Marco Zanuso circa 1951. Zanuso designed these Triennale lounge chairs...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Brass
2 Rare Prototype Italian Organic Modern Swivel Lounge Chairs, Joe Colombo, 1970
By Joe Colombo
Located in New York, NY
2 Rare Prototype Italian Mid-Century Organic Modern Swivel Lounge Chairs attributed to Joe Colombo, circa 1968-1970. (Priced and Sold as Individual Pieces), These unique prototype ch...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Enamel, Stainless Steel
You May Also Like
Pair of Mid Century Modern Sculptural Lounge Chairs Style of Pierre Pauline F438
By Pierre Paulin
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fantastic pair of Mid Century Modern Sculptural Lounge chairs style of Pierre Paulin for Artifort. Need to be reupholstered, stains and some wear to edges. An easy upgrade, current f...
Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Sculptural Pencil Reed Lounge Chairs
Located in Miami, FL
Exceptional pair of hand crafted pencil reed lounge chairs. These sculptural organic modern chairs have both form and function with flowing lines ad...
Category
Early 2000s Asian Organic Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Bamboo
1960s Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Lounge Chairs with Fruit-Wood Base
By Tomlinson
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful pair of 1960s modern sculptural lounge chairs with fruitwood base and bouclé fabric, fully restored and newly re-upholstered in bouclé fabric, with minor wear and patina du...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Bouclé, Fruitwood
Pair of MP-97 Lounge Chairs by Percival Lafer, Midcentury, Brazil, 1970s
By Percival Lafer
Located in New York, NY
In his designs, Percival Lafer sought ergonomy and comfort. This pair of MP-97 lounge chairs by Percival Lafer comprises a solid wood structure with a single piece of a loose foam se...
Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Foam, Wood
Pair of MP-97 Lounge Chairs by Percival Lafer, Midcentury, Brazil, 1970s
By Percival Lafer
Located in New York, NY
In his designs, Percival Lafer sought ergonomy and comfort. This pair of MP-97 lounge chairs by Percival Lafer comprises a solid wood structure with a single piece of a loose foam se...
Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Foam, Wood
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Alky Lounge Chairs in Bouclé by Giancarlo Piretti
By Giancarlo Piretti
Located in London, GB
A pair of boucle Alky lounge chairs designed by Giancarlo Piretti in 1960's / 1970's.
Piretti was known for his innovative approach to his craft, creating the Alky chair with great...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Fabric
More Ways To Browse
Hand Sculpture Chair
Mid Century Modern House Plans
Totem Poles
Used School Stools
Early American Stool
Guggenheim Sculpture
John Roper
Mid Century Rope Stool
Ottoman Hand Mirror
Totem Stool
Theo Van Doesburg
Early American Wood Stool
Model Totem Pole
Frederick Kiesler
Garden Crucifix
Crucifix Mirror
Biomorphic Bench
Steinway Bench