12th May, 2019 11:00
Design
298
Marcel Breuer (1902-1981) for P.E. Gane, Bristol
Marcel Breuer (1902-1981) for P.E. Gane, Bristol
An important prototype armchair, 1935
made from solid timber with carved and jointed construction to resemble plywood
Parker Knoll ivorine trade label
81cm high, 65cm wide, 75cm deep.
Provenance:
It was designed by the Bauhaus designer Marcel Breuer (1902-81) for the Bristol home of furniture manufacturer and retailer Crofton Gane and made by his company P E Gane. An active member of the Design and Industries Association, which championed the emergent modern movement in design, from 1927 Crofton began transforming the family firm to showcase new ideas. Through the DIA he met Breuer who had emigrated to Britain in 1935. Gane employed him to completely remodel the interior of his house to include a range of fitted and non-fitted furniture.
The majority of the pieces were made by Gane’s craftsmen to Breuer’s specifications, including this chair. The intention was presumably to manufacture using steam-bent timber. In practice, this prototype has the curved components formed from segments pegged together to represent bent timber.
In 1936 Breuer designed a sales pavilion for Gane’s at the Royal Agricultural Show. Breuer later cited it as one of the two most significant buildings of his career alongside the UNESCO building in Paris.
The armchair remained in the possession of the Gane family until 1976 when it was acquired by Ken Stradling with other pieces from the Gane House. Since 2007, it has been in the care of the Ken Stradling Collection Trust, alongside two others of identical design. The Trustees have decided to sell this duplicate example in line with their Acquisitions and Disposal policy.
Marcel Breuer (1902-1981) for P.E. Gane, Bristol
An important prototype armchair, 1935
made from solid timber with carved and jointed construction to resemble plywood
Parker Knoll ivorine trade label
81cm high, 65cm wide, 75cm deep.
Provenance:
It was designed by the Bauhaus designer Marcel Breuer (1902-81) for the Bristol home of furniture manufacturer and retailer Crofton Gane and made by his company P E Gane. An active member of the Design and Industries Association, which championed the emergent modern movement in design, from 1927 Crofton began transforming the family firm to showcase new ideas. Through the DIA he met Breuer who had emigrated to Britain in 1935. Gane employed him to completely remodel the interior of his house to include a range of fitted and non-fitted furniture.
The majority of the pieces were made by Gane’s craftsmen to Breuer’s specifications, including this chair. The intention was presumably to manufacture using steam-bent timber. In practice, this prototype has the curved components formed from segments pegged together to represent bent timber.
In 1936 Breuer designed a sales pavilion for Gane’s at the Royal Agricultural Show. Breuer later cited it as one of the two most significant buildings of his career alongside the UNESCO building in Paris.
The armchair remained in the possession of the Gane family until 1976 when it was acquired by Ken Stradling with other pieces from the Gane House. Since 2007, it has been in the care of the Ken Stradling Collection Trust, alongside two others of identical design. The Trustees have decided to sell this duplicate example in line with their Acquisitions and Disposal policy.
