Klismos: The revival of ancient Greek furniture by T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Saridis of Athens
A lecture by George Manginis (Benaki Museum)

In May 1961 the king and queen of Greece attended the opening of an exhibition at the furniture factory of Eleftherios Saridis in central Athens. Twenty-six items by American designer T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings were arranged alongside photographs of ancient furniture that had been revived down to the last detail in walnut wood, bronze, marble, leather, and handloomed fabric. The archaeological accuracy with which their designer had worked seemingly contradicted his modernist principles. Yet, the result was strikingly contemporary and met with acclaim and commercial success. Klismos furniture has been perceived as an episode of postwar American design history, and the country that was both its source of inspiration and place of manufacture has not been brought into the discussion. In this lecture, archaeologist and art historian George Manginis will focus on Robsjohn-Gibbing’s Athenian legacy, the people involved in it, and the tumultuous and exciting time of its creation.

An Archaeological Encounters lecture.

April 16 at 6pm
38 West 86th Street, BGC Lecture Hall