Recently the furniture and design world lost one of the greatest masters of laminated wood. Hopkins established his reputation for the highest degree of craftsmanship in wood by creating elaborate and playful designs that united different functions of furniture into a single work. Not often does one come across a chair whose limbs’ include both a lamp and a bookshelf. The custom lounge chair with ottoman is a fantastic example of Hopkins’ creativity and ingenuity. He defied existing possibilities by creating works in peculiar, curvaceous, and highly original forms. Todd Merrill is excited to present this iconic piece that captures the spirit of Hopkins’ oeuvre.

Neal Small has been an important inspiration for designers and decorators thanks to his iconic multifaceted-mirrored grids and collages. As a result, original signed pieces are both rare and highly desired by the cognoscenti. As reproductions and knock-offs are ubiquitous, we are especially excited to be offering two examples of Slopes both signed and numbered by the artist.

Renowned in France for initiating a decorative transition in public buildings by introducing colorful translucent resin panels that became a modern alternative to stained glass. His “walls of light” can be found in Paris, Avignon, and Nantes. His chef d’oeuvre are the enormous panels he created that illuminate the L’église de la Très-Sainte-Trinité in Strasbourg. The panels presented at the Modernism show can be arranged as a room divider or screen, but were originally constructed to function as a translucent indoor/outdoor wall for a private home in the South of France. Chapuis is cherished as an important pioneer in using resin in the 1950’s. Pieces appropriate for a domestic setting are virtually non-existent and to our knowledge this is the first time one of his creations is exhibited and available for purchase in the United States.

Although she was accepted and recognized by her peers during her era of production, the male-dominated canon of art and design has unjustifiably neglected Elaine Katzer’s unique contribution to sculpture. Working in California, and other areas of South Western United States, Katzer reinterpreted and refashioned the totem pole and the sculpted fountain. Her oeuvre is characterized by a consistent natural palette of earth tones. Both her domestically proportioned sculptures and outdoor installations allude to earlier civilizations such as prehistoric carved stone tools. There has been a recent revived interest and respect for her work, such as public projects and installations on the West Coast. Individual, domestically proportioned works are extremely rare and coveted.

With a career spanning over half a century, Phillip Lloyd Powell continues to produce unique and powerful pieces in wood with timeless appeal, characterized by his expert carving.  Although often overshadowed by George Nakashima, and his prodigy/colleague, Paul Evans, Powell merits equal recognition. His creative process always respects the integrity of the wood, allowing it to dictate the form. His creations embrace the wood’s grain and knots rather than attempt to efface natural irregularities. His pieces express a range of emotions from playful and irreverent to serene and subdued. He often incorporates found elements, both sentimental objects and ephemera, and accentuates pieces with chromium pop colors and gilding. Todd Merrill has long championed Powell’s creations, both recent and vintage works.

Few sculptors are able to produce pieces that can be simultaneously elegant, quirky and structurally sound. Coffey’s fluid and asymmetrical creations succeed in their balance of playfulness and restraint. We are excited to offer Riptide, circa 1980. Through his ingenuity of wood engineering his works are technically impressive, durable, and appropriate for an active household. His body of work developed out of his passion for woodworking, a self-taught skill. In the late 70’s he would replace Paul Evans as a principal studio craftsman for the Directional Furniture Company. Coffey continues to design and produce, and has established several woodworking schools in the North East.

The grand master of intricately superimposed geometric shapes has recently caught the attention of art connoisseurs. He is now rightfully considered an artist and a sculptor, in addition to a furniture designer. The examples presented at the Modernism show are from the most sought-after periods from Evans’ career and are paradigms of studio artistry. The dramatic, over-sized Sculpted Front Console, signed and dated 1965, showcases Evans’ colorful abstract sculptural creations. The tall cabinet, from 1974, and the impressive round table, from 1966, are shining examples from the Argente series. Connoisseurs of Evans’ work can appreciate that these pieces, experiments in metal patchwork, were precursors to the Cityscape series. As in many of Evans’ creations the aesthetics and composition demonstrate a convergence of metallurgy expertise with the details and refinement of jewelry. Skills he refined at the prestigious Cranbrook Academy of Art. After his studies, Evans would spend most of his career working in the renowned artist community of New Hope, Pennsylvania. Both the console and the table are topped with a handsome and striking, solid slices of local slate. Philip Lloyd Powell, another furniture designer/artist, was an important friend and mentor to Evans. We are pleased to also be offering, a grand early collaboration between the two, a custom console and hanging cabinet.