Date: Fri 27-Nov-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDIR

Quick Words:

Modernism-Bagdade

Full Text:

Modernism Show

(with 29 cuts)

By Susan and Al Bagdade

WINNETKA, ILL. -- Now in its ninth year, The Modernism Show: An Exposition and

Sale of Twentieth Century Design 1890-1960, held for the benefit of The

Winnetka Community House -- also the event's venue -- is the only show in the

Chicago area dedicated to these dramatic schools of design. Top quality

examples of Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts, Prairie School, Art Deco, Art

Moderne, Fifties and Twentieth Century movements were displayed in all areas

of the facility November 6 to 8.

Seven new exhibitors joined 44 returning dealers at this popular show.

Saturday's attendance set a one-day record for the event, and the preview

party was also well attended. This year's lecture was given by first-time

Modernism exhibitor Janet Drucker on "Georg Jensen -- A Tradition of Splendid

Silver," who in addition autographed her book with the same title.

Booth seminars included "Heywood Wakefield: Rediscovered/Redefined," by Jim

Toler of Springdale; "Seeing the Invisible: Illustration in Defining

Mid-Century Pop Culture," by Leo Brereton of Streamline Illustrations; and

"Hunting for One-of-Kind, Unconventional and Fantastic Objects" by Doug Taylor

of Praiseworthy.

Returning dealer Flashy Trash of Chicago was exceptionally busy throughout the

show with his vintage clothes, jewelry, and purses. Owner Harold Mandel

reported that he has supplied period clothes for about 350 movies and

presently is working on the new Woody Allen movie being filmed in New York.

Mandel has sent more than 400 outfits to the Big Apple for that assignment.

New dealer Praiseworthy from Guilford, N.Y. sold a wonderful rug from the

Southwest during preview, as well as some smalls. An operating room table lamp

sold on Saturday. Sure to sell was a fascinating suite of bedroom furniture

fashioned from cigar and fruit boxes that was priced $16,000. Dating circa

1939, a Wurlitzer student butterfly piano, covered with aluminum at a later

date, was offered for $13,500. A great portable "No Trespassing" sign,

assembled from spare parts, attracted a lot of attention and was tagged

$5,500. A rustic desk and chair made for the Burntside Lodge in Ely, Minn.,

was $4,500.

White and White from Skaneateles, N.Y., as usual, enjoyed an excellent show.

Sales during the preview included a painting of stylized rabbits, a collection

of hats, a model raceboat, a pair of mushroom garden seats, a miniature golf

set, and lots of smalls.

Another exhibitor reporting a great Modernism was the Arthur M. Feldman

Gallery from nearby Highland Park. Sales included a goat's skin bar cabinet

and a matching nest of tables; lots of purses; and 40s and 50s jewelry from a

recently acquired collection being shown for the first time. There was a lot

of interest in the Mies Van der Rohe MR chairs in tan tagged at $700 each.

Dating circa 1935 was a working French Art Deco child's sink for $1,200.

Collage Twentieth Century Design Classics from Dallas, Tex., sold an aluminum

group lounge and ottoman designed by Charles Eames for Herman Miller, dating

1958; a "Grasshopper Chair" designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, 1948; as well

as lots of stoneware from Scandinavia.

Newcomer Susan Cutler of Avantgarde 1910-1950 in Chicago was doing

exceptionally well with lighting. As a matter of fact, she had to bring in

additional pieces from her gallery to fill out her display. Sales included a

pair of French sconces, table lamps, artwork, a Chrysler mirror and some iron

pieces. There was a lot of interest in her French Art Deco settee set in

burled walnut and rosewood, dating circa 1930.

Janet Drucker of Drucker Antiques, Mt Kisco, N.Y., was pleased with the

knowledgeable crowd familiar with her Jensen jewelry and hollowware. Sales

were great and her lecture and book signing were very successful.

Phil Taylor Antiques from Ottumwa, Iowa, specializes in Arts and Crafts

furniture and accessories. Early sales included an L and JG dining table and

chairs, a rocker, a library table, lamps, and a drop front desk.

Modern Times, another Chicago exhibitor, always has a great show here. By

Saturday they had sold George Nelson case pieces, Bakelite jewelry, and a

Daniel Dremer daybed. Their T.H. Gibbings facing sofas were probably on the

way to a new home too.

From Ft Collins, Colo., John and Nan Sollo sold an Alexander Girard chair, Art

Deco chrome pieces, lots of smalls, some Heywood-Wakefield furniture and an

Angelo Testa screen print.

Route 66 Antiques from Chatham, N.Y., sold a ton of "Bakelite" jewelry,

purses, copper and the like. Arts and Crafts dealer Dalton's American

Decorative Arts, Syracuse, N.Y., sold an early G. Stickley black finish

bookcase, a lot of smalls, and had some serious interest in some major pieces.

For them, Modernism "is a Sunday show." Doug Price Photographs from Ann Arbor

Michigan shared that exhibit space, and sold a wonderful album of photographs

from the Chicago Exposition of 1933-34

Chicago dealer Renee Prosperi of the Modernism Gallery sold lots of smalls,

including shakers, silver, and silverplate that people were buying for holiday

gifts. New Lyme/Richard Wright from Oak Park, Ill. sold a red and orange

stripe compact Eames sofa along with several paintings.

From Winnetka, Fern Simon of Arts 220 sold two wonderful Carlo Buggatti

Italian wood chairs inlaid with bone; a 40s polished iron table; a 60s

handbag; an alligator box; and Georg Jensen, Spratling and Rebajes jewelry.

Fern reported a lot of interest in furniture and objects for the home this

year.

Michael Fitzsimmons Decorative Arts from Chicago was also pleased with the

show's results. A wonderful Arts and Crafts folding screen sold during the

preview. A lot of smalls and a copper top table all went to new homes.

Mr Modern, who moved back to Chicago after a ten-year stay in Los Angeles,

returned to the Modernism show with a great poker table complete with chips,

beer, and cigar, which sold. Chicago dealer Jim Mall sold a set of four

"corset chairs" in plexiglass, made for New York's Grosfeld House by Domenico

Mortellito in the 1940s.