Image Caption: Bertoia Small Diamond Chair
Winterthur has a secret. Scattered throughout our lounges, libraries, laboratories, and offices is a collection of midcentury modern furniture that has as much of a story to tell about American design as the furniture that populates the rooms of the museum. Represented in this group of furnishings is an incredible spectrum of Knoll and Herman Miller objects purchased to furnish museum spaces as early as 1957. Unity by Design: Midcentury Modernism at Winterthur explores the juxtaposition of midcentury modernism at an institution rooted in traditional Americana. This overview of the midcentury modern furniture at Winterthur helps us understand it as an extension of Winterthur’s collection and mission and allows us to explore what it means when traditional meets modern.