$1,500

United States
circa 1949

Stacking side table (or stool) with a triangular lacquered plywood top and solid birch dowel legs. Designed by Boston area designer and urban planner Fran Hosken and produced by her eponymous company Hosken, Inc between 1947-1951. Fran’s engineer husband, James, contributed the screw-in joint design. Readily disassembled and easily moved about, these tables demonstrate the Hosken’s commitment to demountability and flexible furniture arrangements, two hallmarks of early postwar organic design. Per a description in Modern Living Magazine in 1953, “these versatile triangular tables will serve a multitude of functions to his the busy host and hostess. They may be used separately as individual tables, as one table (wedged together) or as individual benches…[the] large surface area is ideal for serving drinks or casual snacks.” In addition to the triangular versions, the Hosken produced square-top stools and tables for both adults and children. These knock-down stacking pieces proved to be their most successful designs, with several thousand units being produced before the designs were widely copied. Knoll and Raymor distributed the square-top stool and MoMA made it a Good Design selection in 1951; additionally they were pictured in Furniture Forum and on the cover of House and Garden (though uncredited) in November, 1951. Austrian emigre Franziska Porges Hosken (1920-2006) was one of the first women to gain entrance to the Harvard School of Design in the early 1940’s, and after her brief (1947-1951) but well-chronicled design career she spent five decades as an urban planner, educator, author, photographer, painter, and feminist publisher. Provenance: the estate of Fran Hosken. Note: On offer is only the stool with the red top; inquire if interested in others.

Condition
The top is in original condition showing wear consistent with age and use. The dowel legs are also in original condition, with wear and scratching throughout and loss of finish at the bottoms. One leg shows some warpage.

Measurements
Height: 16.5 in.
Width/length: 13.75 in.
Depth: 12.25 in.

Specifications
Number of items: 1
Materials/techiques: Lacquered birch plywood with demountable solid birch dowel legs