Transitional Modern

One of my favorite things is what I like to call "Transitional Modern" which is classical styled pieces that don't fit the modern category and don't fit the classical category. They are stuck in the middle. The odd ducks in the pond who just don't fit into either category. In interior design work these pieces can bridge the gap in a room. The pieces can range from simple to over the top hollywood regency.  The chairs above with lucite legs were made by Grosfeld House and sold at Christie's Auction for around $55,000.  Grosfeld House was one of the finest makers of furniture in the early half of the 20th Century.  They produced pieces that were both classical and modern.  They even produced pieces for Vladimir Kagan.  Another example of good transitional design is the work of Italian Architect Paolo Buff, his work is very similar to Gio Ponti whom he studied under but has an elegance to it making it stand out anywhere it's placed.  He is one of my favorite designers as nearly everything I've seen that he has designed I instantly love.  The simplicity and elegance of his designs are awe inspiring.   The photograph below is a sideboard available in our shop by Paolo Buffa for Marelli & Colico.

 

There are many more designers from this period that bridge the modernist and traditional gap.  A noteworthy example would be the designer Tommi Parzinger.  Tommi Parzinger's moved to New York City in the early 1930's and soon came into his own in the design world.  In the late 1930's he was designing his own pieces for the furniture company Charak of Boston.  Charak was a high end furniture company and their range was limited to more traditional American Colonial and Regency style furniture.  The line Parzinger designed for was Charak Modern.  After WWII Parzinger opened up his own shop called Parzinger Inc which later became Parzinger Originals.  Here's a stunning example of some of his work for Charak Modern, available through the shop Converso in Chicago.