MillerKnoll / Archives
While in Michigan, I visited the MillerKnoll Archives. Amy Auscherman, Director of Archives and Brand Heritage at MillerKnoll, has been hard at work since I was there a decade ago. In addition to adding the Knoll archive to her workload, there is now a full fledged design museum. The collection starts in the 1920s and includes contemporary pieces.
Charles and Eero are sort of back together now.
I guess Florence Knoll was stockpiling sculptures by her Cranbrook buddy, Harry Bertoia. There were several stashed away in a warehouse in Pennsylvania. They came with the Knoll archive when Herman Miller acquired the company in 2021.
This is so good and rare
Gilbert Rohde
The strap area with Rapson rocker, Risom high chair and the rest is Sorensen.
I believe this is the same chair Eliel Saarinen died in at his house in Cranbrook. The death womb!
It was the second Womb Chair ever made. Eero gave it to his mother, Loja. This chair sold at Wright from the collection of Ronald Swanson, who acquired it from his grandmother, Loja. It was reupholstered in 1979 with Jack Lenor Larson fabric chosen by Pipsan Saarinen Swanson.
View of Loja Saarinen standing in her home on Vaughan Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI (1960). A portrait of Eliel and Eero Saarinen hangs on the wall.
Source: Courtesy of Cranbrook Archives, Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research
I'm an Eames die hard but Eero wins this one.
The tulip mold
Bertoia chairs : )
Donald Knorr
Have you ever seen one of these with a wood back?
George Nelson Thin Edge
Alexander Girard
The 1970s
The 1980s
The ephemera department
Eames Tandem Sling Seating wood mold
Nelson mold in the back racks.
Irving Harper prototype sofa.
Super rare Knoll paper cutter.
Amy was showing off.
We also went to where the old archive was located.
Ray was ratting out the fakes.
Some crazy Florence Knoll letter tray prototype.
Frank's Restaurant in Zeeland, Michigan. Established in 1924.
Amy told us it's where Charles Eames used to eat cheeseburgers when he was visiting Herman Miller. She's the archivist, so I believe her. Luckily they had a bean patty.
Zeeland is too cute.
