Left: Greta at her desk, 1959, Right: Her series of Cobra and Grasshopper lamps available at DWR |
Left: Portrait of Greta in the 1940's Right: Writing Desk for Glenn of California, 1952 Pic courtesy of 20th Century Archives |
Left: Three paneled folding screen, Walnut frame with painted wood balls on piano string, produced by Glenn of California, Right: Writing desk, Cobra and Cone lamp and "Good Design" chair, 1952 |
Left: Stump wood "Ironing Board" coffee table, produced by Glenn of California, 1952 Right: Chair for Sherman Bertram, Photo courtesy of esotericsurvey.blogspot.com |
Glenn of California desk Left: Photo by 20th Century Archives Right: The same desk in walnut |
Left: Dresser for Glenn of California, Right: Interior of one of her houses Photography: Anne Cusak for Los Angles Times |
A collection of Greta's lamps |
From Danish company Gubi website, Left: Once again a portrait of Greta at her desk a old image of her Cobra lamp |
I have been
pining after a Greta Magnusson Grossman lamp for some time, particularly her grasshopper
floor lamp; I have just the corner for it! Thankfully Design Within Reach has
for some time now been stocking some of her lighting design’s since being put
back into production for many years, by Danish company Gubi so perhaps my wish may come true?! Gubi are also producing some of her furniture designs also which is super exciting!
In an era where too few women garnered
public acclaim for their design and architectural talents, Greta Grossman (1906-1999) pushed through and gained acclaim both in Sweden and
then in America particularly in the 1950’s after she and her husband, Billy
Grossman migrated in 1940, settling in Los Angeles where she opened her store Magnusson-Grossman Studio, on Rodeo Drive in 1940, which was
popular with clients like Greta Garbo, Joan Fontaine and Gracie Allen. Some of her pieces, like the Cobra
Lamp, designed in 1950 for Ralph O. Smith and her 1952 Desk with Storage for
Glen of California, have become icons of
California modern. Original pieces now fetch an incredible amount due to their
rarity.
She also designed as many as 14 homes,
several remain but more than half have unfortunately been demolished, In the
late 1960’s however she just kind of dropped out of the design and architecture
scene and retired.
I love the simplicity but humor (without being too obvious) about her design, I hope you grow to appreciate her contribution to Design in the 20th Century and now all over again.
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