Knoll Alexander Girard - Coffee Table
Alexander Girard described himself as “a reasonable and sane functionalist, tempered by irrational frivolity.” The Coffee Table, introduced to the Knoll catalog as the Model 108 in 1948, reflects the playful spirit he injected into the often austere modern vocabulary. The table was an early Knoll Classic, and is prominently featured in one of the most iconic portraits of Florence Knoll and her dog, Cartree.
Girard’s furniture and, more famously, his textile designs defined a new kind of “opulent modernism.” Often drawing inspiration from traditional folk art, his pioneering and innovative approach to design helped usher in the colors, whimsy and amoebic shapes synonymous with 1960’s America.
After a major retrospective or Girard’s work at the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum in 2004, Knoll reintroduced the Coffee Table.
Alexander Girard described himself as "a reasonable and sane functionalist, tempered by irrational frivolity." The Model 108 Coffee Table, introduced to the Knoll catalog in 1948, reflects the playful spirit he injected into the often austere modern vocabulary.
MEASUREMENTS:
- Height: 40.6 cm / 16 inch
- Width: 149.8 cm / 59 inch
- Depth: 66 cm / 26 inch
MATERIALS:
- Top is ¾” Baltic birch core with 45 degree bevel and a Light Walnut veneer
- Legs are cold-roll steel tubes with metal weldment.
HELPFUL NOTES:
- Finished in black powder coat
- Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certified®
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Alexander Girard
USA, 1907 - 1993
"Art is only art when it is synonymous with living." - Alexander Girard
One of the most prolific mid-20th century designers, Girard’s work spanned many disciplines including textile design, graphic design, typography, illustration, furniture design, interior design, product design, exhibit design, and architecture.
Born in New York City and raised in Florence, Girard was educated in Europe as an architect. He began practicing architecture and interior design in the late 1920s. Girard developed a friendship with Charles Eames in the 1940s when the two men realized they had coincidently designed almost identical modern radio cabinets and were both experimenting with plywood chairs.
Alexander Girard became director of design for Herman Miller's textile division in 1952, a time when fabrics, especially in the office, tended toward the utilitarian, drab and pattern-less. “People got fainting fits if they saw bright, pure color,” Girard commented at the time. At Herman Miller, Girard had the freedom to express himself. With primary colors, concise geometric patterns, and a touch of humor, he injected joy and spontaneity into his designs. During his tenure, he created over 300 textile designs, wallpapers, prints, furniture, and objects. Girard's work with Herman Miller continued until 1973.
Girard's reputation soared in 1959, when his colourful, whimsical interior design of the La Fonda del Sol restaurant in New York electrified the public. He designed the entire experience for the restaurant—interior, graphics, table settings and staff uniforms. In the mid 1960s Girard designed more than 17,000 different items for Braniff International Airways—from logos to uniforms to lounge furniture.
Girard's risky, sometimes iconoclastic fabrics were inspired not by a vision of the future but by a love of international folk art. His passion for what he called “toys” led him around the globe, amassing a collection of roughly 106,000 pieces. These colorful, whimsical objects inspired him, as his designs continue to inspire us.
Boasting an extensive portfolio of products ranging from office work systems and residential mid-century modern classics, to textiles and accessories, Knoll is a leader of modern and sustainable design. Iconic designs from classic designers such as Harry Bertoia, Eero Saarinen, Warren Platner, Isamu Noguchi and Florence Knoll herself make up a large component of Knoll's collection, along with innovative contemporary pieces. Knoll's products can be found in private residences and major art museums alike, including 40 products in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Founded in 1938, Knoll's reputation for design integrity has a long and decorated history under the guiding principle: "good design is good business." Knoll invests in extensive research, field studies, customer collaborations, and partners with experts from the fields of architecture, organizational behavior, technology and business management to ensure that its products adapt and respond to the evolving needs of their customers. Environmental needs and requirements are not overlooked by the design house either. In fact, Knoll is also considered a leader in production practices that reduce waste, conserve natural resources and protect the biosphere.
Knoll has a strong international presence in the design world - headquartered in Pennsylvania, USA with showrooms across North America, Europe and represented by dealers throughout Latin America and Asia.
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