Description:

PAIR MARCEL BREUER FOR KNOLL CHROME AND LEATHER "WASSILY" ARMCHAIRS
Late 20th century. Chrome and leather sling chairs, in Breuer's iconic "Wassily" design (model B3). Knoll: Breuer Collection label to the frame.

Designer Bio: Marcel Lajos Breuer was born on May 21, 1902 in Pecs, Austria-Hungary. He left his hometown at the the young age of 18, in search of artistic training. He spent a short period of time studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, after which he joined Bauhaus as one of its first and youngest members. Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius became his mentor and placed him at head of the carpentry shop. After the school moved to Dessau in 1925, Breuer returned to join his former faculty members Josef Albers, Wassily Kandinsky, and Paul Klee to teach in the newly established apartment of architecture.

His invention of bicycle-handlebar-inspired tubular steel furniture proved popular. One of his most famous designs, the Wassily Chair, utilized this style. Breuer opened his first practice in 1928 in Berlin, designing his first house in 1932. He relocated to London in 1935. While in London, Jack Pritchard employed him at the Isokon company, one of the earliest makers of modern furniture. In 1937, Gropius accepted the appointment to be chairman of Harvard's Graduate School of Design, and Breuer followed him and joined the staff. He eventually broke off his relationship with Gropius to make a name for himself, moving to New York in 1946 to establish his own practice. He designed the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris and the Church at Saint John's Abbey in Minnesota. Breuer employed Beverly Lorraine Greene, the first African-American woman to be licensed as an architect in the United States. He also designed and built the Whitney Museum of American Art, as well as the headquarters for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Breuer designed over 100 buildings and often shared credit where it was due. At the American Institute of Architects 100th annual convention, he was awarded the Gold Medal. In 2007-2008, The National Building Museum held an exhibit, Marcel Breuer: Design and Architecture, dedicated to his work. A documentary film, Breuer's Bohemia, was directed by James Crump and examined his experimental house designs in New England following World War II. Marcel Breuer passed away July 1, 1981.

Sorces: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marcel-Breuer, https://www.theartstory.org/artist/breuer-marcel/

Manufacture Info: Knoll, Inc. was founded in 1938 by Hans Knoll. They began production in New York City, but moved to Pennsylvania in 1950. His wife, Florence Knoll, took over as head of the company in 1955, following Hans death. They manufacture high-end home furniture created by famous designers such as Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, and Maya Lin. Over 40 Knoll productions are held in the permanent design collection at the MOMA in New York City.

Knoll also produces furniture for office settings and higher education establishments. In 2011, the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum awarded Knoll with the National Design Award for Corporate and Institutional Achievement. In April of 2021, Herman Miller acquired Knoll.

Sources: https://www.knoll.com/discover-knoll/our-story
28.75" height, 30.5" width, 25.5" depth

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May 27, 2022 10:00 AM CDT
St. Louis, MO, US

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $29 $5
$30 $99 $10
$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $299,999 $10,000
$300,000 $499,999 $25,000
$500,000 + $50,000