THE (INTERIORS) INFLUENCE OF EGG
A form that has fed creative minds and shaped interiors throughout history
IN THIS ISSUE:
THE EGG AS FUTURISTIC: why its form signals “escape from Earthly prison”
THE EGG AS POLITICAL: futuristic, yes, but also highly domestic
THE BEST EGG BOOK OUT THERE; AND, A BJÖRK REFERENCE
Dear Snoops,
The egg. It needs no introduction.
But what we posit here is that The Egg has exceptional interiors potential (and has demonstrated this potential often), and that it is worth us discussing WHY.
As you’ll have possibly observed, the form has captured the attention of the Aesthetic Class for centuries. Here, a mini summary of EGG ART as evidence of The Egg’s status as conceptually significant:
EGG AS RAW
EGG AS VESSEL
EGG AS ANDROGYNY
EGG AS ANDROGYNY PART II
THE EGG: WHY?
The Egg is, of course, our origin story (physiology-wise). In dreams, The Egg represents both fragility and also birth and also creative potential – a kind of amazing collection of ideas.
And, in design, The Egg represents all of this plus just “Fun Shape”.
(Also: literal eggs are also regularly celebrated, as in GOHAR’s news-making egg “chandelier”, found here.)
EXAMPLE: EGG CHAIR
The egg has the potential to frame us, in so many ways. And, for that reason, art directors are obsessed with EGG AS CHAIR:
THE EGG AT HOME
The Egg, however, has been explored in many, many ways: directly, indirectly, politically, accidentally. All of which could and/or should be in your home:
IF YOU WANT A WIRKKALA EGG, eB*Y is your best source, results here.
IF YOU WANT A GHYCZY CHAIR, a relative rainbow of colors found via 1stD*BS sellers, results here.
THE SEMIOTICS OF THE EGG INTERIOR
First of all, what does it say that the midcentury designers who took it upon themselves to Design-ify the egg, e.g. Arne Jacobsen (whose Egg Chair is pictured later, in orange), were men? An attempt to appropriate that which is biologically out of their reach? AND/OR a way to honor the feminine?
IN ANY CASE (and this is followed by an “AND YET!…”), the Egg in interiors is mainly used to denote FUTURISM. e.g. MEN IN BLACK uses two varieties:
AND YET, we’re deeply absorbed by the interior BELOW, from favorite source book DECORATION U.S.A., in their chapter on “ACCESSORIES EN MASSE”. This seems to suggest that egg can also be neither here nor there, reduced (as Barbara Hepworth might have it… continue reading) to its sculptural simplicity. It is “Round”, and that’s perhaps all you need from it.
WHY?
As DECORATION U.S.A. puts it, the chair sits as part of a “mixed bag of unrelated acquisitions”. Here, it feels as if the chair is intended for an Observer: tucked in a corner, with its shape partially enveloping the Sitter. Kind of a stylish throne for the consummate Voyeur.
THE EGG READER:
We hope you are all aware of the world’s greatest FOOD magazine, The Gourmand (for which we once had the exceptional pleasure of interviewing JERRY SALTZ about his odd coffee habits).
They are the Egg authorities, having published this year the following book:
AN EXCLUSIVE QUOTE FROM ITS EDITOR, the superb Dave Lane:
“It’s been so rewarding to see how much the world loves eggs. I mean we obviously knew that people love eggs but we weren’t sure if that would translate in to a book, and it does. The press has been incredible from International newspapers to fashions magazines, art titles and commercial food publications everyone has found their own unique takeaway. We even had a cover story of La Repubblica in Italy. I think if Art Review and The Daily Mail both cover the same story then your know you’ve done something right.”
Buy it at your local quality, independent bookshop, etc etc.
TAKEAWAY: EGGS RESONATE.
And, as a final note, we think it’s ideal to give EGGS something to pair with. One suggestion is this, a BAGUETTE candelabra. This belongs to FOR SCALE pal Andy C.
Until next week!
LOVE AND GOOD LUCK,