Modernity supplies international museums

Modernity has once again sold important pieces of design to international museums. This time the famous Zig Zag chair by Gerrit Rietveld sold to the Milwaukee Art Museum in the US. The National Museum of Scotland has also recently purchased important pieces of jewellery.

- Over the years Modernity has sold many significant pieces not only to the foremost museums in the US, but also in Europe and of course to important Swedish institutions, says Andrew Duncanson, director and owner of Modernity.

Ever since her childhood, the architect Han Schröder, was very fond of the Zig Zag chair. She grew up in the famous Schröder house in Uutrecht, Holland, that her mother Truus Schröder commissioned Rietveld to design 1924.
These chairs were an important part of the Schröder house, and when Han Schröder decided to move to the US she commissioned Rietveld’s carpenter Gerard van de Groenekan to make a set of six chairs. She used them in her home in the US and was close to Rietveld until his death, also having been his personal assistant at his architectural office.

After Han Schröder’s death Modernity purchased several pieces directly from her estate, and also the set of six Zig Zag chairs. Four were sold to an international collector, one to a Swedish collector, and the final one was purchased by the Milwaukee Art Museum.

- It is always a pleasure to sell to museums as they generally acquire the most important pieces with a great provenance, explains Andrew Duncanson.

Another very important museum is of course the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York that has over the past few years acquired two very typical pieces of Scandinavian design: The Egg chair by Arne Jacobsen and the Halyard chair by Hans Wegner.

The Cooper Hewitt Museum, the Museum of Art & Design, both in New York, have also acquired furniture and jewellery from Modernity. The Corning Museum of Glass, the Los Angeles County Museum (LACMA), the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Wolfsonian in Miami have purchased pieces over the years. Some of these museums are returning customers.

- Many museums have learned over the years that we have significant pieces by well-known Scandinavian designers, of the best quality. They contact us from time to time, and this is of course flattering and a seal of approval that is very rewarding, says Andrew Duncanson.