Art History
1950's Design
11/02/16
The 1950's was the age of consumerism and massive change within the home. Houses were smaller after the war compared to before, and so ways to make more space were a welcome invite. Throughout this decade, open plan living was introduced, as well as fitted kitchens and stackable furniture, which was easier to move and was light.
There were a few new designs invented during this time that today, we take for granted, such as trollies, ironing boards, and sofa beds.
Brighter colours were also introduced; bubblegum, neon, and primary colours were huge in the home. So were geometric patterns and animal print.
New materials were also found or invented to be utilized, such as PVC, Formica, rubber, met amine, aluminium, vinyl, and other plastics.
Some influences were the 1930's, modernism, and surrealism.
This was the decade where the structure of DNA was also discovered.
Americana in Britain:
After the end of the Degenerates, there was an outburst of expression and freedom. Jazz music boomed and Abstract Expressionism in America had become the art of the decade. Anything seen as primitive and imperfect that had been banned during Hitlers reign was celebrated in full force.
During the passing of American soldiers through Britain at the beginning of the war, the bright and optimistic style took influence in a place that had been starved of anything remotely luxurious.
Britain, being an island, had been put on rationing, both in industry and food, because of the lack of imports actually making it into the county, and because of the exports that were mostly unable to make it to their destination. Britain was being starved out and isolated.
Homes were plain and only held plain furnishings, white pottery, or 'blanks', because the only decorated pottery was traditionally British, and was being sold to America for money to continue with the war. Clothes at the time were also plain and were very expensive because of the rationing on industry. Any usable metal had been taken and melted down to be used in the war.
Rationing on industry was lifted first in 1952, and in 1954 for food, which was 8 years after the war had ended.
After the war, there was an influx of new materials when rationing had been lifted. Since there had been a massive decrease in population, there was more money to buy things, and there were more jobs. Women continued to work after the war in place of the mens jobs they had been required to fill during the war.
Festival of Britain:
In the summer of 1951, a national exhibition was held in the UK. It had been organized by the government to give the British a feeling of recovery in the aftermaths of war and to promote the British contributions to science, technology, industrial design, architecture and the arts.
The main feature of the festival was the Skylon Tower, which had been designed by Hidalgo Moya, Phillip Powell, and Felix Samuely.
The tower itself seemed to be floating above the ground, which fueled a popuar joke that it was much like the British economy, which 'had no visible means of support'
Charles and Ray Eames:
Charles Eames: 1907 - 1978
Bernice Alexandra "Ray" Eames: 1912 - 1988
Charles and Ray Eames were husband and wife, and we're both American designers who made significant historical contributions to the development of modern Architecture and furniture. One of their most famous designs was the "Eames lounge chair". Both also worked in industrial and graphic design, fine arts and film.
Charles Eames:
Charles was born in Missouri, USA. When he was older, he briefly studied Architecture at Washington University on an Architecture Scholarship. After two years he left.
Some say that he was dismissed for his advocacy of Frank Lloyd Wright and his interest in modern architecture, while others say he was dismissed for his 'too modern ways'.
Advocacy: Public support for or a recommendation of a particular cause or policy.
Charles Eames met his first wife, Catherine Woermann, while at University, who he married in 1929, and had a daughter, Lucia Jenkins, a year later.
He began his own architecture practice in 1930 with partner, Charles Grey, who were later joined by Walter Pauley. Eames was greatly influenced by Finnish Architect, Eliel Saarinen. Later he became the head of industrial design at the Cranberry Academy of Art after moving to Michigan with his wife and daughter to study Architecture.
In 1941, Eames and his wife divorced, and he married his friend from Crankbrook, Bernice Alexandra Kaiser. Together they moved to California, where they both lived and worked until they died. In the 1940's, they built the "Eames House", which was a ground breaking build, since i had been hand constructed over a number of days using pre-fabricated steel parts.
In 1941, Eames and his wife divorced, and he married his friend from Crankbrook, Bernice Alexandra Kaiser. Together they moved to California, where they both lived and worked until they died. In the 1940's, they built the "Eames House", which was a ground breaking build, since i had been hand constructed over a number of days using pre-fabricated steel parts.
Bernice Alexandra "Ray" Eames:
Ray Eames was born in Sacramento. She was an American artist, designer, and film maker. Along with her husband, she is known for her groundbreaking contributions in the field of architecture, furniture, industrial design, manufacturing, and the photographic arts.
She graduated from Bennett women's college in Milbrook, New York, and then went on to studying Abstract expressionist painting with Hans Hoffman.
In 1936, she was the founder of the American Abstract Artists group.
In 1940, she received a recommendation from a friend, Ben Baldwin, to go to the Cranbrook Academy of art in Michigan, where she worked with people such as Charles Eames, Harry Bertoia, and Eero Saarinen. A year after, she married Charles Eames.
She graduated from Bennett women's college in Milbrook, New York, and then went on to studying Abstract expressionist painting with Hans Hoffman.
In 1936, she was the founder of the American Abstract Artists group.
In 1940, she received a recommendation from a friend, Ben Baldwin, to go to the Cranbrook Academy of art in Michigan, where she worked with people such as Charles Eames, Harry Bertoia, and Eero Saarinen. A year after, she married Charles Eames.
Robin Day: 1915 - 2010
Day was an accomplished industrial and interior designer, and was also active in the fields of graphics and exhibitions.
Day was born in and grew up in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, which was a furniture making town in England.
He started his studies in High Wycombe Technical Institute, where he was a Junior day student, and progressed to High Wycombe school of art in 1931, then studied at the Royal college of actin 1934 on a scholarship, where he developed a ground breaking course in 3D design.
After the war, Day taught interior design at the Regent Street Polytechnic (Now the University of Westminster) where he met the architect Peter Moro, who he formed a partnership with in 1946 designing public information exhibitions.
He went on to create an ingenious concept for a range of multi-purpose storage unit fabricated from a tube of pre-formed moulded Plywood, which received international acclaimed.
He is best known for his Polypropylene armchair.
Day was born in and grew up in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, which was a furniture making town in England.
He started his studies in High Wycombe Technical Institute, where he was a Junior day student, and progressed to High Wycombe school of art in 1931, then studied at the Royal college of actin 1934 on a scholarship, where he developed a ground breaking course in 3D design.
After the war, Day taught interior design at the Regent Street Polytechnic (Now the University of Westminster) where he met the architect Peter Moro, who he formed a partnership with in 1946 designing public information exhibitions.
He went on to create an ingenious concept for a range of multi-purpose storage unit fabricated from a tube of pre-formed moulded Plywood, which received international acclaimed.
He is best known for his Polypropylene armchair.
Lucienne Day: 1917 - 2010
Was a British textiles designer, who was inspired by abstract art.
She used bright, optimistic, abstract patterns in post war England, and was eventually celebrated worldwide.
She was born in Coulson, England. At the age of 17, she enrolled into the Croydon school of art, where she discovered her love for printed textiles. Later, she attended the Royal College of art, where she was a top student.
During her time at the college, she was sent on a two month placement to the firm, Sanderson, where she worked in a wallpaper studio, however she found it hard to adapt to the conservative style of the company.
She was inspired by Wassily Kandinsky and Joan Miro
She used bright, optimistic, abstract patterns in post war England, and was eventually celebrated worldwide.
She was born in Coulson, England. At the age of 17, she enrolled into the Croydon school of art, where she discovered her love for printed textiles. Later, she attended the Royal College of art, where she was a top student.
During her time at the college, she was sent on a two month placement to the firm, Sanderson, where she worked in a wallpaper studio, however she found it hard to adapt to the conservative style of the company.
She was inspired by Wassily Kandinsky and Joan Miro
Arne Jacobsen: 1902 - 1971
Jacobsen was a Danish architect and designer born in Copenhagen, and is well known for his contributions to Architectural Functionalism.
At first, he had hoped to become a painter, but was dissuaded by his father and instead encouraged to take a path in Architecture, which was a more stable career.
After a short apprenticeship in masonry, he was admitted into the Architecture school at the Royal Danish school of Fine Arts. Here he studied from 1924 to 1927 under well known Architects and designers, Kaj Gottlob and Kay Fisker.
Before leaving the school, he traveled to Germany and became acquainted with Walter Gropius and Miles Van Der Rohe.
After completing Architecture school, he began to work in a city firm called Poul Hosloes Architecture Practice.
In 1929, he collaborated with Flemmings Lassen to create the winning design of the "House of the Future" competition, and a year later, went on to designing the Functionalist Rothenberg House.
During WW2, Jacobsen had to leave the office and go into exile because of his Jewish background. Using a rowboat, he left by crossing the Oresund, all the way to neighbouring Sweden, where he spent two years living with 2 doctors, which limied his Architecture work. Instead he began to design fabrics and wallpapers.
After the war ended, he moved back to Denmark to resume his career in Architecture. The country was in urgent need of housing and new public buildings, but primarily spartan buildings, which could be made without delay.
Jacobsen is primarily remembered for his furnithure designs, including the Drop, Egg, and Swan chairs.
At first, he had hoped to become a painter, but was dissuaded by his father and instead encouraged to take a path in Architecture, which was a more stable career.
After a short apprenticeship in masonry, he was admitted into the Architecture school at the Royal Danish school of Fine Arts. Here he studied from 1924 to 1927 under well known Architects and designers, Kaj Gottlob and Kay Fisker.
Before leaving the school, he traveled to Germany and became acquainted with Walter Gropius and Miles Van Der Rohe.
After completing Architecture school, he began to work in a city firm called Poul Hosloes Architecture Practice.
In 1929, he collaborated with Flemmings Lassen to create the winning design of the "House of the Future" competition, and a year later, went on to designing the Functionalist Rothenberg House.
During WW2, Jacobsen had to leave the office and go into exile because of his Jewish background. Using a rowboat, he left by crossing the Oresund, all the way to neighbouring Sweden, where he spent two years living with 2 doctors, which limied his Architecture work. Instead he began to design fabrics and wallpapers.
After the war ended, he moved back to Denmark to resume his career in Architecture. The country was in urgent need of housing and new public buildings, but primarily spartan buildings, which could be made without delay.
Jacobsen is primarily remembered for his furnithure designs, including the Drop, Egg, and Swan chairs.
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