American Art Deco Furniture is a Limited Edition book that covers the development of an American “style” of furniture that breaks from European tradition. It took 3 1Ž2 years to research and write and draws on 38 years of experience in buying, selling and collecting by Ric Emmett, one of the most knowledgeable and respected dealers in Art Deco since 1979.
The book is organized around the various designers of the late 1920’s and 1930’s such as Donald Deskey who designed the interiors and furniture at Radio City Music Hall and Paul Frankl who came from Vienna in 1914 and by 1922 he had his own gallery in New York and whose first commission was to design a beauty salon for Helena Rubinstein. It also features some of the American companies and manufacturers that took a risk during the Great Depression introducing a new style, such as Herman Miller who produced Gilbert Rohde’s very modern line of furniture.
Ric Emmett passed on April 7, 2015. His wife and partner, Iza Emmett is working on his second book, American Art Deco Lighting and she and their daughter, Jennifer Bird, will be presenting the book and talking about American Art Deco Furniture. A Q & A period following the presentation.
Reception prior to the presentation.
Read more at: http://booksandbooks.com/event/ric-emmett-american-art-deco-furniture-ga...
You can see the Books & Books Live streaming event here: http://livestream.com/
Comments
I don't know anyone else who compared to Ric; I probably never will.
He was learned and curious and lived and breathed Art Deco; until the free spirit kicked in who loved his family, smoked too many cigars, and attracted and cared for the wildest variety of friends one could imagine.
He did it his way.
Already missed.
I had the wonderful experience of meeting Ric some 30 years ago while on a visit to Miami from NYC. I was checking out deco dealers in the area. Little did I know then that in 2 years I (and my deco collection) would end up on Miami Beach and Ric would become a main source for new purchases. More importantly he would become a teacher and mentor for me in all things deco and above all he would become a close and dear friend. His passion for research became contagious- a virus I'm most pleased to have contracted and I'm convinced is incurable. Saturdays in the library at Modernism Gallery were weekly "vacations" into a vintage world of 1930's books and periodicals. I will forever treasure them as I will his booming laugh and brilliant wit and obtuse puns. Whenever I catch a whiff of a stokie, I'll always think of my deco brother, Ric.
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