Did someone say Iron & Rattan?? YES MA’AM!!!! Who doesn’t love that combo?? Well, we certainly do! This marvelous pair of end tables is composed of beautiful black painted wrought iron frames with straight, thin cylindrical legs, a unique X crossbar stretcher between the legs, and each table stands upon fabulous iron ball feet. They feature gorgeous woven reeded natural rattan square tabletops with slightly inward curved sides & wonderful iron ball details on each corner of the tabletop. One tabletop has a bit darker hue than the other but that’s just inherent of the natural rattan. This fantastic pair of end tables is unmarked, but we have attributed them to Pipsan Saarinen Swansen for her Ficks Reed Sol-Air Line, and they are nothing short of MAGNIFICENT!!! They will be awesome used in your living room one on each side of a chair or the sofa, in the sitting or family room, or utilized as nightstands however… they may not be very lamp friendly… just smaller items!! And, while they would be great in your sunroom, we don’t recommend using them outside. We just wouldn’t take a chance on weather sensitivity & outside elements! They are simple, classic, and bear a Mid-Century Modern MAGNIFICENCE you are sure to love for years to come!!!
Eva-Lisa “Pipsan” Saarinen Swanson was born on March 31, 1905. She was a famed Finnish American designer of furniture, fashion, textiles, & interiors based in Michigan. She was daughter to well-known architects of the Cranbrook Campus & President of the Cranbrook Academy of Art, Eliel Saarinen and his wife Loja Saarinen, a noted sculptor & textile designer. She was also the elder sister to an iconic name in modern architecture, Eero Saarinen. Pipsan married architect Bob Swanson in 1926, and she taught the first class on contemporary furniture design at the Cranbrook Campus and was part of a strong period there known as the “golden moment.” In 1935 both Pipsan & her mother had their textiles exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Eventually, she left the academy to work with her husband & they formed Swanson Associates in 1947 where she was responsible for their interior design services. One of her most noted products was a line of indoor-outdoor furniture known as the “Sol-Air Group,” which she produced for Ficks-Reed. She created various other furnishings & decorative items with her brothers throughout the years and was an industrial design consultant for clients including Barwick Mills, Goodall Fabrics, & the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. She was named an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects in 1972. She passed away at home in 1979.
The Ficks Reed Furniture Company was originally established by Louis Ficks as the National Carriage and Reed Company in 1885. For over 125 years they built their reputation manufacturing high quality furniture using wicker, rattan, woven peel, bamboo, and selected hardwoods. They furnished both residential and commercial environments including prestigious hotels, clubs, restaurants, and resorts. They collaborated with world renowned designers including icons such as Paul Laszlo, John Wisner, Dorothy Draper, Paul T. Frankl, and others. Every piece of Ficks Reed furniture is hand worked to the highest quality which maintained their legacy as a leading manufacturer. Ficks Reed closed its manufacturing facilities in Cincinnati Ohio in 2011.
Clean lines, timeless presence, and did we mention… Wrought Iron and Reeded Rattan?? It doesn’t get much better than this folks!! You know you love this pair of end tables Attributed to Pipsan Saarinen Swansen for Ficks Reed Sol-Air Line. So, what are you waiting for?? Make them YOURS!!!
