In 1939, Isamu Noguchi designed a glass-top rosewood table for Conger Goodyear, then president of the Museum of Modern Art.
“Even the first table I made for Conger Goodyear was not exactly utilitarian. I thought of it as sculpture that was a table. After all, you can say that the earth is a table. We feast upon it. You can also say that it is utilitarian, this earth.”
In 1933, Noguchi also did a bust of Conger, that can be seen here.
Source: Ezra Stoller photo, Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum via Phillips
Conger Goodyear House in Old Westbury NY, Architect: Edward Durell Stone
Photo: © Ezra Stoller / Esto via Phillips
Exterior of the Goodyear house
Source: Daniella on Design
Noguchi at the Goodyear house
Source: Ezra Stoller photo, Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum via Phillips
Isamu Noguchi, 3 ideas for "Table"
Source: Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum via Phillips
So, here is your chance to own the very first Noguchi coffee table.
Source: Phillips
Great things come with great estimates. It's worth every penny.
This wouldn't be the first multi-million dollar Noguchi table to sell. Remember this one?
There's also a Noguchi chess table by Herman Miller
According to the provenance, this is the same one that sold at LAMA a couple years ago. More on that here.
Source: Phillips
Noguchi cloud form sofa by Herman Miller
Source: Phillips
Source: Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum via Phillips
"Rudder" stool, model no. IN-22, by Herman Miller
Source: Phillips
This Phillips sale also includes crazy rare Carlo Mollino, Alvar Aalto, Jean Prove, and Eileen Gray. Not to mention, they are having two other design sales loaded with more insane stuff; one on the same day and another one the following day. Phillips has obviously found the treasure map that shows where all the great design is hidden.
Phillips: THE COLLECTOR: ICONS OF DESIGN
NEW YORK, 16 DECEMBER 2014