The Historia Supellexalis: “K” for Knoll
Knoll
A Wilhelm; A Walter; A Willy; A Hans; A Florence; A Lineage
smow Blog Design Calendar: May 17th 1955 – Charles Eames Granted US Patent 2,708,476 for Furniture Frame Construction
On May 17th 1955 Charles Eames*, as assignor to the Herman Miller Furniture Company, was granted US patent 2,708,476 for a “Furniture Frame Construction”, specifically for, “a skeleton type metal furniture frame or shell construction” formed from “a plurality of lengths of wire arranged in crossed relation with another plurality of lengths of wire and welded thereto at their intersection…”1
A patent which although important and interesting in itself, is and was in many regards just as important and interesting for developments that arose on account of it. And for what its (hi)story can teach us about the work of Charles and Ray Eames……..
Lost Furniture Design Classics: Model 9 Table Lamp by Isamu Noguchi for Knoll Associates
Throughout his numerous lives and careers Isamu Noguchi practised as an artist, set designer, garden designer, furniture designer, lighting designer, etc…. yet through all incarnations he remained one thing: a sculptor.
Isamu Noguchi’s most popularly known work is inarguably his Akari lamps, yet before Akari there came a lamp which in many regards exists more in context of the man and his art than its more famous relations…..
smow Blog Design Calendar: May 24th 1917 – Happy Birthday Florence Knoll!
Dear Judge Tessin:
I will herewith express our delight to have Florence with us this summer. I am sure that it will be good for her to see a little more of the world. We are going to Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, and Holland. We will take good care of her.
Most sincerely yours,
Eliel Saarinen1
And take good care of Florence, Eliel Saarinen did: so much so that she advanced to become one of the most important protagonists in the development of post-war furniture, textile and interior design.
NeoCon Chicago 2016: High Five!!
At the risk of getting political, the term “neoconservative”/”neocon” hasn’t always had the best reputation, especially not in Europe where
Blurred Lines or What if Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke designed furniture?
On March 10th 2015 a jury at the Central District Court of California in Los Angeles concluded that Pharrell Williams
smow blog compact Milan 2015 Special: Pilot Chair by Barber Osgerby for Knoll
Upon seeing Rui Alves’s Bridge armchair prototype at IMM Cologne 2015 we commented on the unfamiliar, and for us not
smow blog Design Calendar: March 10th 1915 – Happy Birthday Harry Bertoia!
“I am rather silent, resolute and industrious. I can use any tool or machinery with dexterity.” So described a 21
Passagen Cologne 2015: Rem Koolhaas – OMA: Tools for Life at Ungers Archiv für Architekturwissenschaft
Following on from system design at the MAKK and the more autonomous product design featured at Objects in Between, we
5 New Design Exhibitions for January 2014
Those still looking for a New Year’s Resolution could do worse than to promise to try to maybe visit more
(smow) blog 2013. A pictorial review: April
The biggest April fool is…. us, for always going to Milan! That said, as ever, we did find a few
Milan Design Week 2013: Tools for Life by OMA for Knoll
During Milan Design Week 2013 Knoll formally launched the “Tools for Life” collection from Dutch architecture practice OMA, a collection
Bauhaus Dessau: Marcel Breuer – Design and Architecture
Much as Gerrit Rietveld‘s career is publicly reduced down to the Rood-blauwe stoel, so too is it all to easy
(smow)intern: The Designer Furniture Catalogue 2011
Luddites! Not a phrase normally associated with (smow) To the best of our knowledge no (smow)employee has ever smashed an
Happy Birthday Eero Saarinen!
August 20th marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Finnish architect/designer Eero Saarinen. Eero Saarinen had – in all
(smow) offline: “gute aussichten – junge deutsche fotografie 2009/2010” Georg Brückmann
A recurrent theme, not only here in the (smow)blog but also in general throughout the (smow) global network is the
2010 Designer Furniture World Cup: Finland 2-France 0
After the strenuous match against Alexander Girard, France decided to rest Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for the match against Eero
(smow)offline: Herbert Hirche, Strahlend Grau
Because our article on the new London bus has been delayed by a broken water main at Tooting Bec, we’ve
(smow)offline: The art of faking it. Adelta helps customers spot copies
They say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. They, however, have obviously never spent hours, weeks and years
Barcelona Chair by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
The so called “Barcelona Chair” by German architect and designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is without question one of
Happy Birthday Bauhaus!
One of Europe’s most important design institutions today celebrates the 90th anniversary of its establishment. For fans of purist design