Esoteric Survey

  The Saarinen House (1929) at Cranbrook Academy by Eliel Saarinen with help from Loja, Pipsan, and Eero. It was the home of Eliel and Loja from 1930 to 1951. Eliel was the master architect for Cranbrook and was the C ranbrook Academy of Art’s president from 1932 to 1946. Lilly Swann Saarinen and Loja Saarinen in the book room. Source: Courtesy of Cranbrook Archives, Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research Textiles and hangings by Studio Loja Saarinen. Almost every piece was designed by a member of the Saarinen family. They even let Pipsan's husband, Robert Swanson, have a piece in the house.  Kevin Adkisson, Curator at the Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research, showed us the house and was the best guide. He had some juicy stories about Robert Swanson. Eliel Saarinen dining set. Cranbrook Academy student Harry Bertoia gets credit for trimming the base of the sculpture to fit perfectly within in the center inlay.  Pipsan flower floater The home studio. We're ...

Robert Swanson candelabra and Alvar Aalto stools Robert Swanson designed the candelabra  to compliment the Saarinen-Swanson Group.  The line, designed in collaboration with his wife Pipsan, included furniture, textiles, lamps, glassware and ceramics.  Source: House & Garden, July 1947 Robert F. Swanson, Pipsan and her father Eliel Saarinen, Marianne Strengell, Benjamin Baldwin, Charles Dusenbury, and ceramicist Lydia K Winston all collaborated on the Saarinen Swanson Group. Source: House & Garden, July 1947 The interesting thing is that mine is iron, possibly to compliment the Sol-Air group by Pipsan and Robert.   More about the candelabra: MIA & Cranbrook Also, according to the original owner, it was purchased at VKG. I was so happy to get this. Now I need to figure out what it went to. James Lovera and Harry Handler (see more here ) A great ikebana container, Robert C Fritz, James Lovera and Ted Saito Howard Miller clock, Heath ladle, Gustavsberg ...