RUSSEL WRIGHT + MoMA
Russel wright + MoMA
Curated by James Zemaitis
September 26 - November 16
MANITOGA DESIGN COLLECTION + SHOP, Cold Spring, NY
Postcard, ca. 1939-40
An undated postcard published ca. 1939-40 by the Museum of Modern Art depicts the “Members Penthouse” in the first permanent building of the museum, designed by Edward Durell Stone and Philip L. Goodwin. The lounge contains a selection of plywood furniture by the European pioneers of modernism who were canonized by MoMA in the late 1930s: Alvar Aalto, Marcel Breuer and Bruno Mathsson. However, in amongst these iconic forms is a vignette of three distinctly American modern chairs notable for their pony skin upholsteries. There is a pair of club chairs most likely designed by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller and facing them is one of Russel Wright’s most famous and rare designs, a lounge chair with adjustable back, carved arms and furry black seat, originally designed in 1932.
This lounge chair is the earliest design by Russel Wright to enter MoMA’s collection. Interestingly, it was not formally acquired by the museum until 1958, and it was included in their first catalogue devoted exclusively to its permanent collection of 20th Century Design in 1959. Only a handful of these chairs are known to exist, including one in the permanent collection of Manitoga on view in Russel Wright + MoMA.
Museum Service Water Pitcher, Eva Zeisel, ca. 1942-45
Smoking Accessories by Mary Wright
Detail of Ashtray by Mary Wright
The honor of first-ever Russel Wright design to be exhibited at MoMA goes to a group of wooden bowls included in Philip Johnson’s 1934 “Machine Art” exhibition, about which we know very little. In the years that followed, during what is sometimes called the “Good Design Era” at MoMA during the 1940s and 50s, a period of institutionalized trade shows overseen by Edgar Kaufmann, Jr. featuring affordable and “useful” objects that could be purchased at department stores in the major American cities, Russel Wright’s designs made several dozen appearances. Drawing on the permanent collection of Manitoga, Russel Wright + MoMA features objects by Russel and Mary Wright (whose smoking accessories were included in a 1939-40 “Useful Objects” show) and their contemporaries that were exhibited at MoMA during these years, including all the most famous dinnerware patterns, spun aluminum accessories, woodworks, and glassware.
Long Chair, Marcel Breuer, ca. 1936-39
Adjustable Chair, Herbert Von Thaden, ca. 1947
The objects are accompanied by a selection of related furniture available for purchase from the private dealers Eskenazi Zemaitis, including Marcel Breuer’s iconic Long Chair from 1936 (which is illustrated in the foreground of the Members Penthouse postcard and was featured in numerous MoMA publications as a standard bearer of modern design); Olga Lee’s table lamp from the 1952 “Good Design” exhibition; Ray Komai’s chair from the 1950 “Good Design” edition; and seating by Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi, Ernest Race, Russel Wright (his folding chair for Samsonite, exhibited in several MoMA shows in the 1950s) and Sori Yanagi.
Photos by Michael Biondo
RUSSEL WRIGHT + MoMA will be on view at MANITOGA DESIGN COLLECTION + SHOP through November 16.