10-18-2006, 10:29 PM
Ron--yes, she looks pretty good in that dress and it is revealing for the times. But she is definitely high-class. And high-class anyone would had to have been in the early 30's to be able to afford to purchase that Philco 370 chairside.
By the way, Philco was not the only radio manufacturer who engaged Norman bel Geddes for design services. Check out this example of a truly great catalin radio which bel Geddes designed for Emerson:
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/11/na/h...722.11.htm
And bel Geddes did some great furniture design as well. Check out this example of his work for the Simmons Furniture Company:
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/research/l...?id=115140
He did lots of other work for Simmons in the early 1930's, all of which were executed in all-metal furniture in the very best examples of American art-deco design of that era.
If you want to see another example of bel Geddes' work for Simmons, and just how much in demand the few remaining pieces can command in the current marketplace, check out this current eBay listing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/7409109776
While the $1,795 asking price of this bedroom suite might seem high, I suspect it might be less than its original price from Simmons in the early 1930's, after adjustment for inflation over the past 70+ years.
Norman bel Geddes was one of the "big three" who were the established leaders in American industrial design in the 30's and 40's, the heyday of the so-called "art deco" and "streamlined" era. The other two being Raymond Loewy and Henry Dreyfuss. Only in recent years have the works of these three men become truly appreciated. And proof of the old saying "Quality remains long after price is forgotten."
Poston
By the way, Philco was not the only radio manufacturer who engaged Norman bel Geddes for design services. Check out this example of a truly great catalin radio which bel Geddes designed for Emerson:
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/11/na/h...722.11.htm
And bel Geddes did some great furniture design as well. Check out this example of his work for the Simmons Furniture Company:
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/research/l...?id=115140
He did lots of other work for Simmons in the early 1930's, all of which were executed in all-metal furniture in the very best examples of American art-deco design of that era.
If you want to see another example of bel Geddes' work for Simmons, and just how much in demand the few remaining pieces can command in the current marketplace, check out this current eBay listing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/7409109776
While the $1,795 asking price of this bedroom suite might seem high, I suspect it might be less than its original price from Simmons in the early 1930's, after adjustment for inflation over the past 70+ years.
Norman bel Geddes was one of the "big three" who were the established leaders in American industrial design in the 30's and 40's, the heyday of the so-called "art deco" and "streamlined" era. The other two being Raymond Loewy and Henry Dreyfuss. Only in recent years have the works of these three men become truly appreciated. And proof of the old saying "Quality remains long after price is forgotten."
Poston
