Mallett 20th C 2013 final_new Mallett catalogue design 14/10/13 15:16 Pagina 3
Introduction
For many designers in the 20th century, the past was not something to be ignored, but to be built upon. That is not to suggest they were simply revivalists, the heavy handed styles of the latter half of the 19th century were anathema to most. Rather, there was a recognition of the fine balance of design and materials that characterise the best of European decorative arts from the 18th century. The most enduring furniture of the last hundred years share the perfect proportions, the fine craftsmanship and the ability to stimulate, and amuse, of the best of the past. The fantasy of the rococo period appears undiminished in the unique loveseat by Yves Marthelot, and whilst there are other twentieth century precedents in figures such as Dali and Emilio Terry, he has created a piece that is very much his own. His legacy, far greater than is acknowledged, can be seen in contemporary artists such as the Campana brothers. The 1940’s ushered in a new world, an embrace of the atomic age and the subsequent hedonism of the 1970’s are all seen in the innovative forms and materials of post-war Italian and French design. These pieces speak of the ambitions of their age and the glamour of their original settings. Of the four contemporary pieces included that were commissioned by Mallett, each designer has drawn something fundamental from the past, whilst distinguishing themselves by being in no way constrained by it. The organic form of the lamps by Patrick Blanchard suggests the very earliest arts of the 20th century, the paper-thin shades are carved, with exquisite skill, in the form of acanthus leaves, the archetypal classical motif. Neoclassicism has been the most recurring theme of the past 100 years, sometimes so well hidden its elements do not immediately reveal themselves. For some designers it held a profound truth and Jean-Michel Frank, and his contemporaries within the Bauhaus movement, sought methodically to find the essence of beauty and function with the minimum of materials. His work, and that of his immediate collaborators, share a rare and unpretentious beauty that allows them to transcend period and fashion. We hope you enjoy this catalogue and we look forward to seeing you at our galleries in London and New York.
Giles Hutchinson Smith Chief Executive
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