Golden Apple Seat

Golden Apple Lounger

The five-star Golden Apple Boutique Hotel in the heart of Moscow, Russia, is most famous for its exclusive interior design by Canadian architect Raphael Shafir, but to us, chair appreciators, the most interesting thing deserving of our special attention is their fabulous giant golden seat shaped to look like a nibbled at apple.

The apple is shiney and golden on the outside and is positioned in the hotel lobby with its whole side facing the window to one of the Moscow’s central streets (passing by the hotel you see the apple inside, but to know you can seat in it you’d need to walk in!), the hollow side of the apple is upholstered in plushy black fabric and is big enough to fit 3 slim persons.

Pictured here is Miss Russia 2006 Tatiana Kotova during her visit to the hotel. Photo courtesy of Golden Apple Boutique Hotel Facebook page.

Grasshopper by Wieki Somers for Tectona

Grasshopper by Wieki Somers
Grasshopper by Wieki Somers 2
Grasshopper by Dutch designer Wieki Somers for French brand Tectona.

via Dezeen.

Chair made from 1739 Aluminum Can Tabs

Chair from 1739 Aluminum Can Tabs
Chair seating from 1739 Aluminum Can Tabs detail

You’ll have to drink a lot of beer to get the seating of this lounge chair by Colombian designer Carlos Alberto Montana Hoyos in place. Actually the zip ties holding the tabs together do the trick.

Via TreeHugger.

Desk with Chair by René Herbst (1891-1982)

Desk with Chair by Rene Herbst
At the end of March there is an important auction in Paris. Among the lots this desk with chair by Rene Herbst (1891-1982)

Trained as an architect in Paris, London and Frankfurt, Rene Herbst was a versatile and prolific exponent of Modernism who sought to democratize the avant-garde. Originally an early supporter of Art Deco, Herbst swiftly asserted an identity that embraced the use of progressive new materials within fully resolved interior schemes. Herbst had been quick to recognize that the promotion of good, modern design would be swiftly accepted by the wider public when presented through public environments. Consequently, the styling and interior decoration of the five boutiques that Herbst created for the 1925 Exposition Internationale showcased his progressive vision and led to commissions to design the interiors of the Jean Puiforcat and Siegel boutiques, and the Prunier restaurants in London and Paris. During this period Herbst had been among the first to consider the importance of tubular steel in the serial-production of furniture, and his ‘Sandows’ chair of 1928 – which dispensed with traditional upholstery in favour of exposed rubber springs – represented a statement of breathtaking modernity. Similarly, Herbst’s concepts for lighting were strongly architectural structures that sought to exploit the reflective qualities of chrome-plating and the brillance of electric light. A founding member of the UAM, Herbst undertook numerous collaborations with other members, including selections for the interior of the palace of the Maharaja of Indore, and bespoke modernist furniture for the Parisian townhouse of the Aga Khan, alongside varied commercial commissions that included steel furnishings for ocean liners, and exhibition design.

Post-Lot Text

A sycamore, walnut and chromed steel desk, fitted with nickeled brass reading lamp and three frieze drawers, together with a corresponding desk chair, with chromed steel frame and white leather upholstery, by René Herbst, for his own use, 1928

via Christie’s.

Transat Lounge Chair by Eileen Gray (1879-1976)

Transat Lounge Chair by Eileen Gray
Soon in Paris: This Transat Lounge Chair by Eileen Gray (1879-1976)

Estimate €600,000 – €800,000 ($850,699 – $1,134,266)

A black-lacquered wood ‘Transat’ lounge chair, with nickelled steel fittings, the hinged padded back and seat with blue-green fabric upholstery, by Eileen Gray, for Jean Badovici, circa 1926-1930

This chair – among the most emblematic of Miss Gray’s designs – was evolved in the mid-twenties as she was exploring new furniture ideas in the context of the building of E-1027, the thoughtful and exquisite realization of her personal vision of Modernism. The name ‘Fauteuil Transat’ that appears in the portfolio dedicated to the project, ‘E-1027 Maison en Bord de Mer’ (Table des Matières, p. 27) underlines the maritime inspiration — for this is a sophisticated re-interpretation of that most functionalist of designs, the classic deck-chair.

At least a dozen ‘Transat’ chairs were made. Most were in plain sycamore, a small number were lacquered, including one for the Maharaja of Indore. Period photographs and documents confirm various options for upholstery, including brown and blue leather, pony-skin and canvas.

The present chair is exceptional in having its original upholstery, which, with regard to its colour, matches the description of a ‘Transat’ recorded in the closing-down sales, post February 1st 1930, of Miss Gray’s Galerie Jean Désert stock, listed as ‘Fauteuil allongé sycomore matelas cuir bleu renard’. Interestingly, the list is annotated to the effect that this item, destined for ‘Melle [Kate] Weatherby’, is ‘à recevoir’. A quotation of February 10th 1930 from A. Meffa, specialist in Duco lacquer, confirms a price of Francs100 each for lacquering armchairs. The relatively modest cost, suggesting a small surface to be lacquered, and the fact that no armchair models of this date other than the ‘Transat’ involved lacquer finishes, would suggest that, despite the closure of her gallery, Miss Gray was still engaged with the finishing of furniture for her close circle of clients, friends and associates.

These archive documents, referencing blue upholstery and lacquer finish, suggest a context for the completion and acquisition by Jean Badovici of the present ‘Transat’. The chair was bought in the early 70s by Mr and Mrs Robert Walker together with a black lacquer ‘Brick’ screen, both from the estate of Jean Badovici, at the time when Mr and Mrs Walker were assiduously tracking Miss Gray’s work and played a crucial role in drawing attention, after years of neglect, to her singular and most impressive achievements.

via Christie’s.