Lot Essay
cf. M. Nakashima, Nature Form & Spirit: The Life and Legacy of George Nakashima, New York, 2003, pp. 214 - 217 for more information on the Rockefellers' Japanese House.
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PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF NELSON A. ROCKEFELLER
In 1972 Governor Nelson Rockefeller (1908-1979) and his wife Happy called upon the Japanense architect Junzo Yoshimura to design a house on their family's compound in Pocantico Hills, NY. A good friend of George Nakashima, Yoshimura turned to him for the furnishings. Using rare and exotic woods, Nakashima produced over 200 exquisite pieces for the Rockefellers including a number of new designs which made up the series he called 'Greenrock' after the family's foundation. Nakashima's furnishings for the entire interior of the Rockefeller's home was, at the time, the largest private collection of his work and included the two here offered Long Chairs.
Originally designed in 1947, the Long Chair is Nakashima's interpretation of an iconic furniture form - the chaise longue. His outstretched, elegant wood chair, with its skillfully carved articulated parts and elongated, imposing free edge arm, firmly made its mark alongside other modernist models.
The Long Chair was an important model which Nakashima had discontinued by 1980 because of its prohibitive production costs. The model was revised and re-introduced in the 1990s due to its popularity. The present two versions, like all the objects he produced for the esteemed Rockefeller commission, are particularly beautiful examples; in each chair his expressive free form arm is extraordinarily strong and compelling.
GEORGE NAKASHIMA (1905-1990)
AN IMPORTANT LONG CHAIR, CIRCA 1974
Details
GEORGE NAKASHIMA (1905-1990)
AN IMPORTANT LONG CHAIR, CIRCA 1974
executed specifically for the Japanese House of Governor and Mrs. Nelson A. Rockefeller, designed by Junzo Yoshimura, Pocantico Hills, New York, walnut with cotton webbing
27½ in. (70 cm.) high, 33½ in. (85 cm.) wide, 66 in. (167.6 cm.) long
AN IMPORTANT LONG CHAIR, CIRCA 1974
executed specifically for the Japanese House of Governor and Mrs. Nelson A. Rockefeller, designed by Junzo Yoshimura, Pocantico Hills, New York, walnut with cotton webbing
27½ in. (70 cm.) high, 33½ in. (85 cm.) wide, 66 in. (167.6 cm.) long
Brought to you by
Brent Lewis
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