Telephone stand, c. 1927
Attributed to Abel Faidyexpand_more
Ebonized walnut and maple marquetry with mechanized doorsexpand_more
The Modernism Collection, gift of Norwest Bank Minnesotaexpand_more 98.276.291.1a,b
On View in Gallery 379expand_more
The American Art Deco movement is conveniently divided into two principal phases: Zigzag Moderne of the 1920s and Streamline Moderne of the 1930s, the first reflecting the dominance of the triangle and T-square and the second the French curve and the compass.
Few works capture the essence of the Zigzag Moderne better than Abel Faidy's telephone cabinet and matching side chair. Among the contributing factors to this delightfully fragmented design were the interplay of light and shadows seen in America's new vertical cityscape (overlapping skyscrapers), Cubism, the mania for Egyptian and South American cultures (pyramids and ziggurat-shaped temples), and even electricity (jagged lighting bolts). The doors of the cabinet are wired to open when the candlestick telephone, housed inside, rings.
Details
- Title
- Telephone stand
- Artist Life
- American (born Switzerland), 1895-1965
- Role
- Designer
- Accession Number
- 98.276.291.1a,b
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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