Category Archives: Brooklyn Museum

Art Deco and Modernism at the Brooklyn Museum

Eastern Parkway entrance to the Brooklyn Museum.

The main entrance to the Brooklyn Museum on Eastern Parkway. Photo by Virginia Rollison from Timeout.com

The Brooklyn Museum, in its namesake borough of New York City, is a must destination for anyone with an interest in Art Deco. The museum’s collection encompasses many areas, but its decorative arts section is truly fantastic. Chris and I did visit the museum back 2016 and will revisit again once the pandemic is behind us. But the museum is currently open to visitors with reduced hours and limited number of admissions. Before visiting please check their website for their guidelines.

 

The Brooklyn Museum antecedents date back to 1823. The famed architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White designed the neoclassical building for the museum’s permanent home in the Park Slope section of the borough. Construction took place in stages between 1895 and 1927, with the museum doors opening in 1897. The museum is New York City’s third largest and holds over 1.5 million works in its collection. And the breadth of the their catalog is enormous. It embodies the artistic heritage of world cultures. It ranges from Egyptian and African art through works from the 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries and disciplines from painting, sculptures and decorative arts. And the Brooklyn Museum’s collection of Art Deco and Modernist pieces is one of the best anywhere.

 

The Brooklyn Museum in 1910. Image from The New York Historical Society / Getty Images.

Museum of Arts and Science (Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences; Brooklyn Museum), Brooklyn, New York, New York, 1910. (Photo by Geo. P. Hall & Son/The New York Historical Society/Getty Images)

 

The Williamsburg Murals

One of the major pieces of modernist art in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum are the Williamsburg Murals. During the mid-1930s, New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia began a campaign to remove slum housing. Replacing them were new, low rent apartments having lots of natural light, green spaces and community rooms. One of the first of these projects, the Williamsburg Houses, was built between 1936 and 1937.

Architect William Lezcase (1896 – 1969) wanted art work to be part of the basement community rooms. Commissioning artists through the WPA’s Federal Art Project four individuals created the works for these spaces. But these are very unlike the usual WPA murals going up concurrently in Post Offices across the United States. Unlike the local history theme of most WPA murals these are bold and abstract, reminiscent of Bauhaus art. The commission for these works went to four American abstract artists, Ilya Bolotowsky, Balcomb Greene, Paul Kelpe and Albert Swinden. These were the first public murals of this kind in the United States.

 

Albert Swinden mural, circa 1939. From the Williamsburg Houses.

Untitled, oil on canvas. Williamsburg Mural by Albert Swinden, circa, 1939. Image from brooklynmuseum.org.

 

As the years passed the community rooms became offices or storage spaces and the murals suffering from neglect were painted over. Their rediscovery beginning in the late 1980s is an amazing story of art restoration. These murals on now on loan to the Brooklyn Museum from the New York City Housing Authority.

 

 

Untitled by Iyla Bolotowsky, one of the Williamsburg Murals.

Untitled by Iyla Bolotowsky on display at the Brooklyn Museum. Image from tru-vue.com.

 

Below are a few of the great objects in the museum’s collection.  Some of these pieces are on display in the Decorative Arts section on the fourth floor. While other not currently on exhibition are viewable in the Luce Visible Storage and Study Center on the fifth floor.

Ronson Touch-Tip

Circa 1935 Ronson Touch Tip lighter.

Louis V. Aronson. Cigarette Lighter, “Ronson Touch-Tip,” ca. 1935. Chrome and black-enameled metal, 3 3/8 x 4 3/8 x 2 1/4 in. (8.6 x 11.1 x 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of David A. Hanks.

Catalog Description

“Ronson Touch-Tip” model, streamlined, tugboat shaped tabletop lighter (a) with wick holder (b). Flat chrome-plated base rounded at one end, square at the other end. Incised all around with two parallel bands painted black. Chrome-plated turret-like top rounded on one side. Side elevation of top is quarter round curved down in back to meet base. All the vertical planes of the top are painted black. Three parallel chrome bands curve around the sides of the front extending about 1/3 of the length. On the horizontal plane at very top are a knob (b) attached to a flint that fits into hole and a finger depressor to activate mechanism.

 

Polaroid Desk Lamp Model #114

Walter Dorwin Teague Polaroid Desk Lamp, Model #114, 1939.

Walter Dorwin Teague (American, 1883-1960). Desk Lamp, Model #114, ca. 1939. Aluminum, plastic, 12 3/4 x 11 1/2 x 10 1/4 in. (32.4 x 29.2 x 26 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund.

Catalog Description

Desk lamp, Model #114. Low, hemispherical brown plastic (bakelite?) base with a cylindrical metal switch at the front and the lamp stem at the rear; wire cord attached through bottom rear of base. Stem is an aluminum cone tapering out from bottom, rising at a slight angle; four vertical slots at bottom rear of stem. Top of the stem is an irregularly shaped half circle punctured with circles and four screws with plastic heads that attach to the shade. Brown plastic shade in general shape of three-dimensional isosceles trapezoid with basically straight sides but rounded on all edges, and widest at the front. Shade slopes downward on top toward the front. Center of shade is slightly raised with four slots for ventilation along the rear and two on each side of the raised section. Interior of shade is spray-painted white and has two metal reflectors, curved one at back and flat one on inside top; underside covered with a thin, soft piece of green or brown plastic, held in place by a wire frame (intended to produce glare-free light).

 

E & J Bass Company Cocktail Glasses and Ice Bucket

E & J Bass Company Cocktail Glasses and Ice Bucket, 1928.

Elsa Tennhardt (American, born Germany, 1899-1980). Stem Glass, Part of Five-piece Set, Patented 1928. Silver-plated brass, 4 7/8 x 2 3/4 x 2 3/4 in. (12.4 x 7 x 7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Designated Purchase Fund.

Catalog Description

Cocktail glass on stem, silver-plated brass; part of a set with ice bucket, stem glasses, and salt and peppershakers. Glass has triangular base and irregularly shaped, curving stem that supports inverted cone-shaped bowl with three applied, triangular decorative motifs.

 

Russel Wright Coffee Urn

Spun aluminum coffee urn designed by Russel Wright, 1935.

Russel Wright (American, 1904-1976). Coffee Urn, ca. 1935. Spun aluminum and walnut, 16 x 13 x 8 1/4 in. (40.6 x 33.0 x 21.0 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Paul F. Walter.

Catalog Description

Coffee Urn. Spun aluminum, wood. Spherical form on cylindrical stand. Spherical wood knobs on metal cylinders for handles, final, and pourer. Narrow cylindrical spout at base of sphere. Metal percolator basket with lid in interior.

 

Air King Radio

Air King plaskon radio, 1933.

John Gordon Rideout (American, 1898-1951). Radio, 1930-1933. Plaskon (plastic), metal, glass, 11 3/4 x 8 7/8 x 7 1/2 in. (29.8 x 22.5 x 19.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased with funds given by The Walter Foundation.

Catalog Description

Radio, plastic case with metal and glass parts. Rectangular, box-like form of light green plastic with two narrow steps attached to each side. The front decorated with series of seven vertical striations from top to bottom, and four horizontal ones near base. Black on/off and volume buttons to right and left near base and large green tuning knob at center of face. Near top is metal (brass?) plaque showing a male and a female figure in ancient dress placing their hands in middle of abstracted symbol (for radio wave?).

 

Revere Normandie Pitcher

Chrome plated pitcher designed Peter Muller-Munk for the Revere Copper and Brass Company.

Peter Muller-Munk (American, born Germany, 1904-1967). “Normandie” Pitcher, ca. 1935. Chrome-plated brass, 12 x 3 x 9 1/2 in. (30.5 x 7.6 x 24.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund.

Catalog Description

“Normandie” pitcher of chrome-plated brass. Streamlined, in plan, a teardrop shape with a flat, strap handle curving out from lip of rounded rear side of pitcher, and down to same rounded side of base. Body of pitcher comes to a point at front end, forming a straight line running from pouring spout to base. Top of pitcher dramatically raking up from handle at rear to point of pouring spout.

 

Weil-Worgelt Study

The extent of the change in 1930s modernism in less than a decade is seen to best advantage by a comparison of the Williamsburg Murals to the Weil-Worgelt Study of 1930. The biomorphic forms of the murals would soon become a popular furniture trend starting in the late 1930s. While the study is an excellent of the pure early style of French modernism of the 1920s.

 

The Weil-Worgelt Study, 1928-1930.

Alavoine of Paris and New York. Weil-Worgelt Study, ca. 1928-1930. Lacquer, glass, leather, veneered panels, 119 x 201 1/2 x 176 1/4 in. (302.3 x 511.8 x 447.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Raymond Worgelt,

Catalog Description

Designed by the New York office of the Parisian decorating firm Alavoine, this elegant study, made for an elite client, was a conservative interpretation of the Art Deco style; this can be seen in the geometric paneling of palisander and olive wood veneers and the large abstract lacquer panel, designed by Henri Redard and executed by Jean Dunand. A small, concealed bar, with etched glass walls that salute France, is hidden in the corner in defiance of Prohibition, which forbade alcohol consumption in the United States from 1919 to 1933. Interestingly, while this room was furnished in the Art Deco style, the public rooms in the rest of the Worgelt apartment were furnished in a more conservative French eighteenth-century-revival style.

 

 

So if you love Art Deco and / or Modernism and you find yourself in Brooklyn, stop in at the Brooklyn Museum, you’re sure to enjoy your visit.

 

Anthony & Chris (The Freakin’, Tiquen’ Guys)

 

The Start of the 2016 “Freakin’, Tiquen'” Season and a trip to two flea markets.

With the Pier Antique Show in New York City being discontinued this year the start of our “Freakin’, Tiquen'” season was delayed until the Memorial Day weekend and a visit to two flea markets. We wanted to try something new so it was off the exotic land of Brooklyn, New York and a visit to the Brooklyn Flea in the Fort Greene neighborhood. That was on the Saturday of the holiday weekend. The Friday before I made one of my research trips to the New York Public Library at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street. On my way to the library I passed by the American Radiator Building (now the Bryant Park Hotel) on West 40th Street. Designed in 1924 by John Howells and Raymond Hood, in a combination Gothic and Modern style, that I would call “proto-deco”. The building was made famous by a 1927 Georgia O’Keefe painting Radiator Building-Night New York. 

 

The American Radiator Building (Bryant Park Hotel) .

The American Radiator Building (Bryant Park Hotel) .

 

The facade of the building is in black brick to represent coal, the gold decorations are representations of parts of a radiator.

 

Radiator Building-Night New York, by Georgia O'Keefe.

Radiator Building-Night New York, by Georgia O’Keefe.

 

While waiting for the library to open, I snapped a photograph of 10 East 40th Street. In the 1930’s the building was known as the Chase Tower. Not Chase Bank, but the showroom for the Chase Copper and Brass Company’s specialty giftwares. The showroom was on the top floor of the building, in the space behind the arched windows.

 

The former Chase Tower at 10 East 40th Street, through an arch of the New York Public Library.

The former Chase Tower at 10 East 40th Street, through an arch of the New York Public Library.

 

On Saturday Chris and I were meeting friends for what would be for our first visit to one of the Brooklyn Fleas, on this trip it was the Fort Greene Flea.

 

I wish we had driven to Brooklyn, as there were a couple of bigger items, a nice Deco console table with a blue glass top; also a reproduction copper panel molded from an original off the Boston Electric building.

Reproduction Art Deco copper panel.

Reproduction Art Deco copper panel.

 

While I only purchased a nice plaid, seersucker necktie from the 1920’s our friends bought a very, very nice reverse painted, Art Deco picture frame with the hand colored photo of Loretta Young that was in the frame when it sold back in the 1930’s.

 

Loretta Young photo in a Deco reverse painted frame.

Loretta Young photo in a Deco reverse painted frame.

 

After leaving the flea market and lunch we were off to the Brooklyn Museum to view some of the Art Deco treasures on display there.

 

The Brooklyn Museum

The Brooklyn Museum

 

Silver Plated Art Deco.

 

 

Architectural Art Deco

Tubular Steel Furniture

 

Marcel Breuer tubular steel furniture. From top to bottom: Side Chair, Model B5 (1925); Armchair, Model B4 (1927); Table, Model B19 (1928)

Marcel Breuer tubular steel furniture. From top to bottom: Side Chair, Model B5 (1925); Armchair, Model B4 (1927); Table, Model B19 (1928)

 

Weil-Worgelt Study

(Originally at 575 Park Avenue, New York City)

 

The Golden Nugget Flea Market

 

Anthony at the Golden Nugget.

Anthony at the Golden Nugget.

Sunday it was off to one of our favorite flea markets, the Golden Nugget, near Lambertville, New Jersey. We have always had good luck at the Golden Nugget and this weekend was no different.

 

One of the two Deco purchases was this set of six, chrome Chase tumblers. These are not common, Chris has only come across one of these before at $28.00 and it wasn’t in that great of condition. This set was $40.00 and the tumblers are in very nice shape. The simple design of the etched rings at the bottom give the tumblers a great streamline look.

 

Set of six Chase chrome tumblers.

Set of six Chase chrome tumblers.

 

The best find of the day was a Kodak Beau Brownie No. 2 in Black and Maroon. Designed by Walter Dorwin Teague, these Art Deco cameras were in production from 1930-1933. It is not in perfect shape, but it was only $15.00, so I was not going to pass it up.

 

 

 

This was a great start to the new “Freakin’, Tiquen'” season. We can’t wait to see what other finds we will come across this summer.

 

Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’, Tiquen’ Guys)

 

For more about Walter Dorwin Teague check out this past Driving For Deco post:

Walter Dorwin Teague Treasures at the Dallas Museum of Art