GOOD DESIGN: January 1951
An Exhibition of Home Furnishings Selected
by The Museum of Modern Art, New York for
The Merchandise Mart, Chicago
Edgar Kaufmann, Jr. [Director]
Edgar Kaufmann, Jr. [Director]: GOOD DESIGN [An Exhibition of Home Furnishings Selected by The Museum of Modern Art, New York for The Merchandise Mart, Chicago]. New York: Museum of Modern Art [Dept. of Industrial Design], January 1951. First edition. Slim octavo. Stapled printed wrappers. 24 pp. with supplement stapled in. 277 text listings. A very rare piece of ephemera that can settle any argument about what was included in the 1951 Good Design exhibition. A nearly fine, fresh copy.
"Items are selected based on: eye-appeal, function, construction and price, with emphasis on the first. "
5.5 x 8.25 stapled booklet with 24 pages of text listings (no photos). This slim booklet includes information on most of the items from the January 1951 exhibition, plus additional listings for the June 1951 midseason updating of merchandise.
Items are selected based on: eye-appeal, function, construction and price, with emphasis on the first. Selection committee for the 1951 show were Edgar Kaufmann, Jr., William Friedman, Philip Johnson, Hugh Lawson and Eero Saarinen. There are no photo's in this book, but instead listings by category which include: Item, Approximate Retail Price, Designers and Manufacturers/Distributors.
GOOD DESIGN was a series of exhibitions of home furnishings, organized by the Museum of Modern Art, New York, for the Merchandise Mart, Chicago. Originating in January, 1950, it's purpose was to present the best new examples in modern design in home furnishings. This booklet is from the shows' second year - 1951, which featured the exhibition design of Finn Juhl.
Items are listed in the following categories:
- Furniture
- Glass and Tablewares
- Fabrics
- Wallpaper
- Lamps
- Floor Coverings
- Kitchenware and Appliances
- Accessories
Designers and Manufacturers include but not limited too: Harry Bertoia, Florence Knoll, Paul McCobb, George Nelson, Herman Miller, Knoll Associates, Georg Jensen, Charles Eames, Arne Jacobsen, Jens Risom, Hans J. Wegner, Erik Nitsche, Knoll Textiles, Herman Miller Fabrics, Alexander Girard, Stig Lindberg, Jack Lenor Larsen, Lightolier, Eva Zeisel, Wilhelm Wagenfeld, Kaj Franck, Raymond Loewry Associates, Henry Dreyfuss and many many more.
"It is the first time an art museum and wholesale merchandising center have co-operated to present the best examples of modern design in home furnishings. Now, at the mid-point of the century, these two national institutions, whose very different careers began just 20 years ago, believe and hope that in combining their resources they will stimulate the appreciation and creation of the best design among manufacturers, designers and retailers for good living in the American home. Thus the attention of all America will be focused on the good things being created by the home furnishings industry." -- Rene d' Harnoncourt and Wallace O. Ollman