I was attempting to research and find out more about the Knoll Barcelona Chair and I am having trouble clarifying some points on my research.
I have read that Knoll took over production of the Barcelona Chair in the early 50s', and that prior to that Thonet had been producing them.
Moreover - and the real point of my thread - is that I have also read that the Barcelona Chair was not always up to that point produced as one entire frame and that Thonet did produce it with bolts.
What I am trying to ascertain is if this is so, are there any known examples of Thonet produced Barcelona Chairs that have the bolts?
Yes and no
We obtained several pieces from an estate quite some time ago and wrote the Barcelona chair off as a copy and thought of it as a copy when we purchased it, and have used it still as a casual chair in the bedroom corner.
What has prompted the curiosity is that we obtained another piece from the estate which the owners stated they acquired at the same time which has a pending attribution by one of the company execs pending the actual designers say so which is either a yay or nay forthcoming shortly.
So it begs to be asked because the time frame of it being obtained would match it being on the line with 1953 or so.
We can certainly post a picture, but even with a picture, the whole subject is moot if the bolts being used is not actually factual.
If someone knows an actual location or on-line location where one can be viewed, we would like to know.
Thanks.
Interesting
The link was excellent. I have since uncovered sales at Auction houses of versions going back to 1929 - with alterations to the number of straps used in addition to other changes.
It seems the production changed several times.
This link shows very interesting information, though I still have had trouble finding close up shots showing when it was produced (apparently) with bolts in the frame.
I will keep searching. I wonder, does anyone know of a book that specifically covers this aspect? Or is the referenced book going to answer my questions that I have exactly?
If so, i will try to get a copy.
.
You've probably found them but names to search would be Bamburg and Joseph Mueller Metal Gewerbe, Gerry Griffiths, Trietl Gratz and Alcoa, they all participated in various productions. from sketchy memory I think Thonet were only involved with the tubular pieces and Knoll briefly used a bolted frame then changed to welded throughout, pre-war chairs are very rare.
The book isn't exhaustive but is worth purchasing, there is some interesting information too if you look up a few articles on the recent Tugendhat restoration, the chairs were made according to the original drawings which differ considerably from the current production and they had to get permission from Knoll to do it, the article is somewhere online and goes into other interesting things like the tussle between the family and the Brno council and the recovery of lost fixtures.
Thank you for the tip
Heath,
You are a very helpful person, thank you.
We are not buyers and resellers (although we do trade to "uptrade" sometimes), and you know to be an expert on one area is a feat in itself, which makes casual collecting or ownership of the odd piece here and there a little frustrating when you don't want to spend hundreds to get an answer.
I think experts should be paid for their knowledge.
If I had a question here about McCobb for instance, then I could approach you-know-who and pay to get an answer - because he knows that man's work exceptionally well (despite any differences, the man knows McCobb, period).
I would be happy if someone here could source information on an odd piece here and there we have run into and own to know where and who made it - and pay for that opinion - they should be paid IMO.
I am almost certain the Barcelona Chair I have will not be an early knoll with bolted frame, but I would like to know. If I could email you to show you what I am talking about you will probably immediately ID it as a fake from Stendig etc. or some other manufacturer - and I would be happy either way I know.
I have a Dresser, a lamp and a set of chairs that have no known attribution though we have leads that have not come up either way, and darn it, I wanna know!
hmmm...
not to be an instigator but are you sure you're not a reseller....?
ebay auction 36 inch Noguchi cyclone table from Utica college sold July 9th for $207.50....same table from Utica college relisted by you a few days later and sold for 1,200.
I know this as I considered bidding on it (for my little breakfast nook) and pick it up from Utica on my way to NYC this week...no sour grapes here...I decided to pass in lieu of something else..."uptrading" does sound better though 🙂
jdip...
Of that I have no doubt....:-)
I have no problem with either the professional or resell hobbyist....with all due respect to tinyarmada I just found taking the time to make a clear distinction that he/ she is not a reseller but rather an "uptrader" curious...and by curious, I really mean I was curious as to the motivation to do so.
Good luck with the chairs, of...
Good luck with the chairs, often its more educative to spend a bit of time and money researching these things yourself, I'm no Mies expert at all but what I do know hasn't come about from asking highly specific questions on forums. Following good or dubious leads, visiting museums and buying a range of books is a better investment. If you broaden your knowledge with facts that may not seem relevant at the time you'll perhaps be better informed the next time something mysterious comes your way.
Almost a reseller with that Noguchi Table
I won that auction in Utica. Good spotting!
He also had another one (you can see it to the right of the other table...just), got a fast shipper and I got both of them instead of him having to list the second one in a new auction.
The second one was in very good condition and for an easy sale I just sold that on ebay, and kept the one everyone could see on ebay - and cleaned up it came up darn nice indeed.
Yeah, we sell and buy, but it is only for the home front which is beginning to look mighty good these days.
Oh, if I only had a truck and some spare days to fly around the country at these auctions I see everywhere. Though prices aren't exactly going down, its getting harder and harder to find good deals.
If you need any help, please contact us at – info@designaddict.com