FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Freeman’s May 17^th 2008 20th/21^st Century Design Sale to Offer Nakashima and Other Modern Designs

Contacts:
Olivia Snyder osnyder@freemansauction.com
Alexandra Jaccard osnyder@freemansauction.com

Samuel T. Freeman and Company’s 20^th/21^st century design department is presenting several outstanding pieces for an upcoming auction held on May 17, 2008.Several pieces by George Nakashima have been highlighted in the upcoming sale.

The Church of Saint Martin of Tours in New Hope, Pennsylvania has graciously given Freeman’s four church pews for the upcoming sale. (Estimated at $6,000-$8,000 each) George Nakashima, a long-time parishioner of the Church of Saint Martin of Tours was called upon to remodel the interior of the new church and in 1961 new pews were supplied to the church. To our knowledge, this is the only ecclesiastical commission Mr. Nakashima worked on.

Copies of the original drawings will accompany the lots.  Please note that some additional pews maybe available after the sale.

Born in the Pacific Northwest of the United States in 1905, George Nakashima began his relationship and love of nature at an early age. After studying architecture at the University of Washington he went on to study at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and later he enrolled at New York College.After all his education was completed Nakashima embarked on a world wide voyage that lasted seven years.

Although Nakashima developed an affinity towards trees in his native Washington it was when he visited Japan that his relationship with trees and nature matured.  While in Japan, Nakashima was introduced to the twelve hundred year-old keyaki tree. Upon seeing the keyaki tree, Nakashima began a lifelong relationship and admiration with nature and the endless possibilities for which nature provided wood.

The sale also displays several other pieces made by George Nakashima.  The ‘Greenrock’ ottoman made in 1982, displays the original chenille fabric handed picked by Nakashima and is unique to this ottoman.The ottoman is currently estimated at $3,000-$5,000. The Grass-seat footstool made in 1982 is constructed with woven grass cord top and walnut base ($3,000-$5,000).

Other furniture includes three ‘Dodo’ lounge chairs by Toshiyuki Kita for Cassina in 2000. ($1,200-$1,800)

Other items of importance include a luster glazed ceramic bowl signed ‘BEATO’ by Beatrice Wood estimated at $1,200-$1,800. Another item of note are two of Rose Cabat’s ‘feelie’ sculptures estimated at $1,200-$1,500. An additional top lot includes Betty Woodman’s glazed ceramic vessel composed of seven pieces estimated at $10,000-$15,000.

For more information, or to order a catalog, contact Alexandra Jaccard, 215.563.9275 x3087, ajaccard@freemansauction.com. For high-resolution images, email osnyder@freemansauction.com.