$15,000

United States, 1941

Unit case piece in solid birch with recessed longitudinal pulls and frankly visible joinery, comprising a chest of drawers and an upper inset shelf unit, designed by Ann Hatfield and Martin Craig as part of their award-winning suite of furnishings for the Museum of Modern Art’s seminal “Organic Design in Home Furnishings” competition, presented at MoMA from September 24-November 9, 1941. According to the new Department of Industrial Design’s first director Eliot Noyes, “a design may be called organic when there is an harmonious organization of the parts within the whole, according to structure, material, and purpose. Within this definition there can be no vain ornamentation or superfluity, but the part of beauty is nonetheless great—in ideal choice of material, in visual refinement, and in the rational elegance of things intended for use.” The selected entries tended to be modular, flexible, largely unadorned (except for fabrics) and not least, affordable. As winners in the Furniture for a One-Room Apartment category, the Hatfield/Craig designs were not only exhibited at MoMA but were awarded contracts for manufacture and distribution in eleven major department stores, among them Bloomingdale’s in New York and Kaufmann’s in Pittsburgh. Per the now iconic MoMA catalog for the show, “the casework by Craig and Hatfield has been produced in five basic units with standardized dimensions so that they may be combined in a variety of ways…three units—the open shelves, the drawers, and the cabinet, serve as bases upon which the other two units—the upper shelf and the desk—may be placed.” Despite intentions for serial production, few of these units were ever produced, owing largely to America's entry into WWII less than a month after the MoMA show closed. Still, the show--and the exigencies of war--influenced the direction of American design in the 1940's. Ann Hatfield (1903-1989 ) received a B.A. from Mt. Holyoke College, worked for Pola and Wolfgang Hoffman and the Decorating Department of B. Altman before opening her own office in 1938. She helped design interiors for the Museum of Modern Art, the International Arrivals Building at Kennedy Airport and the Time and Life Reception room and offices. Martin Craig (1906- ) was a sculptor and free-lance furniture designer and industrial designer. Measurements are overall. The chest of drawers itself measures H 30 in.; the inset shelf has a depth of 12 in.

Condition
Has been cleaned, polished, and re-toned. In very good overall condition with only minor evidence of age and use.

Measurements
Height: 50 in.
Width/length: 28 in.
Depth: 17 in.

Specifications
Number of items: 1 (consisting of two pieces)=
Materials/techniques: Solid birch