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Making Modern: Florence Knoll Bassett
A true visionary, Florence Knoll Bassett (1917-2019) left behind a remarkable legacy as both trailblazing entrepreneur, pioneering designer, architect and art collector. As the design force of Knoll, Florence radically transformed the field of “interior design” for the new modern era – the signature “Knoll” look quickly coming to epitomize mid-20th century aesthetic that remains as relevant today as back then.
Florence Knoll during a meeting of the Knoll Planning Unit, circa 1955. Courtesy Knoll Archive.
Having studied under some of the greatest 20th century architects such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer, Florence began her career in New York in the 1940s. Together with Hans Knoll, the founder of Knoll Associates whom she later married, she helped grow a nascent further company into the largest and most prestigious high-end design firm of its kind in the world.
Hans and Florence Knoll, 1951. Photograph by Tony Vaccaro.
As partner, co-owner, and eventually president of the company following Hans Knoll’s passing in 1955, Florence became the single most-powerful figure in the field of modern design. As Director of the Knoll Planning Unit, she revolutionized the American corporate environment in the 1950s and 1960s with her sleek, open-office “total designs” and collaborated with some of the best post-war designers in creating some of the most iconic and timeless pieces of design – many of which are still used in contemporary interior.“I am not a decorator.”
– Florence Knoll BassettFlorence Knoll and Eero Saarinen developing the Pedestal Collection, circa 1955. Courtesy Knoll Archive.
Influenced by the Bauhaus, she pursued a modernist philosophy of merging art, architecture and design in creating – not merely decorating – spaces. Her showrooms were notably one of the first to incorporate works of art, which she hand selected and often added to her own collection that she built with a remarkable curatorial eye.
Showroom at 575 Madison Avenue, New York. Courtesy Knoll Archive.
At the same time as Florence developed a particular appreciation for the work of modern master Paul Klee from her mentor Mies van der Rohe, she was also an ardent supporter of the art of her time and forged close relationships with such stalwarts as Isamu Noguchi and Josef Albers.
Florence retired from Knoll in 1965 and eventually settled in Miami after marrying bank executive Harry Hood Bassett, with whom she continued to build an exceptional collection - one that powerfully speaks to the pioneering vision and timeless modern aesthetic with which she forever revolutionized the field of modern design.Provenance
Galerie Louise Leiris, Paris
St. Armands Gallery, Inc., Sarasota (by 1976)
Acquired from the above by the present owner
Making Modern: Art & Design from the Collection of Florence Knoll Bassett
135
Femme couchée
signed with the artist's monogram "HL." lower right
graphite and watercolor on handmade paper
11 7/8 x 20 5/8 in. (30.2 x 52.5 cm)
Executed in 1949.
Quentin Laurens has kindly confirmed that this work is registered in the Studio archives.
Estimate
$20,000 - 30,000
John McCord
Head of Day Sale, Morning Session
New York
+1 212 940 1261
20th c. & Contemporary Art Day Sale, Morning Session
New York Auction 2 July 2020
101
Anne Truitt
Parva XIII
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $93,750
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102
Ed Moses
Untitled
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $16,250
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103
James Turrell
Hologram (IV 01)
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $50,000
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104
Lee Bontecou
Untitled
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $105,000
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105
Ad Reinhardt
Untitled
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
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106
Mark Tobey
Untitled
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
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107
Hans Hofmann
Yellow Glow
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
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108
Joan Mitchell
Untitled
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $102,500
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109
Robert Motherwell
Untitled
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $23,750
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110
Helen Frankenthaler
1973 (Thanksgiving Day)
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $47,500
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111
Ed Clark
Untitled
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $47,500
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112
Ed Clark
Untitled
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $47,500
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113
Mary Corse
Untitled (Black White Inner Band, Beveled)
Estimate $220,000 - 280,000
Sold for $250,000
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114
Tony Smith
Spitball
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
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115
Robert Ryman
Bent Line Drawing 20" x 20"
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $56,250
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116
Kenneth Noland
Resect
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
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117
Carlos Cruz-Diez
Chromointerférence Mécanique
Estimate $80,000 - 100,000
Sold for $90,000
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118
Yayoi Kusama
Flower
Estimate $18,000 - 22,000
Sold for $20,000
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119
Robert Morris
Untitled (Hypnerotomachia Series)
Estimate $18,000 - 22,000
Sold for $68,750
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120
Louise Nevelson
Young Tree XXIV
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $110,000
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121
George Rickey
Broken Line (Two Lines Horizontal)
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $40,000
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122
John Chamberlain
Untitled
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $15,000
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123
Lucas Samaras
Chair with Reclining Curvaceous V
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
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124
Deborah Butterfield
Chestnut
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
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125
Julian Schnabel
Insomnolent Brown Trimmed in Mink
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $250,000
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126
Julian Schnabel
Lazarus, Second Painting for Aldo Moro
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $435,000
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127
Mary Heilmann
Lil Totem
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $137,500
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128
This lot is no longer available.
129
Philip Guston
Untitled (double-sided drawing)
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
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130
Jack Tworkov
Torso
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $9,375
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131
André Breton
Four works: (i-iv) Untitled
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $16,250
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132
Joseph Cornell
Sandsifter Box
Estimate $180,000 - 250,000
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133
Fernand Léger
Untitled Composition
Estimate $18,000 - 22,000
Sold for $28,750
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134
Jacques Lipchitz
Study for Pastorale
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
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135
Henri Laurens
Femme couchée
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
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136
Henri Laurens
La jeune soeur
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
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137
Fernando Botero
Woman with Serpent
Estimate $200,000 - 250,000
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138
Fernando Botero
Danseuse équilibriste à cheval
Estimate $35,000 - 50,000
Sold for $37,500
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139
Wifredo Lam
Untitled
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $150,000
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140
Loló Soldevilla
Sin Título
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $52,500
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141
José Gurvich
Untitled
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $77,500
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142
Tomás Sánchez
Meditador
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
Sold for $399,000
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143
Gerhard Richter
Onkel Rudi
Estimate $18,000 - 22,000
Sold for $21,250
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144
Anselm Kiefer
Lilith
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $68,750
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145
Kenny Scharf
Coconut Star
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $50,000
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146
Kenny Scharf
Spacemeats
Estimate $45,000 - 55,000
Sold for $81,250
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147
Jim Dine
2 Moons
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $81,250
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148
Alighiero Boetti
Entre loup et chien
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $30,000
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149
Tom Wesselmann
Study for Face Aquatint
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $22,500
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150
Richard Pettibone
Andy Warhol, Marlon, 1963
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $37,500
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151
Ed Ruscha
S
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $27,500
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152
Richard Artschwager
Pull
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
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153
Al Held
Untitled
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $21,250
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154
Ralph Humphrey
Station
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $22,500
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155
Larry Poons
Untitled
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $200,000
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156
Paul Jenkins
Phenomena Forecast of Fire
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $75,000
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157
Patrick Hughes
Stairs to the Stars
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $112,500
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