Picture it: Christmas of 1962. Designer
George Nelson is chugging Brandy Alexander's at a party in beautiful Zeeland, Michigan.
Isamu Noguchi is there and Nelson keeps pestering him, saying loudly "You gotta have some 'nog, Nog." Noguchi tries to ignore him, but Nelson's on a tear. He steps over towards the crendenza and announces "Here! I'll even make one for ya, Noggy!", but never gets the last word out. Why not? Because he blows chunks instead, all over the beautiful credenza. Then he slips, cracks his head on the corner and passes out on top of it.
The party looks on, aghast.
Noguchi walks over to Nelson, pulls out his camera and takes a photo of his besotted friend. "There's your fucking eggong, Nelson. Merry Christmas!"
40 years later: The credenza is for sale! Somebody shellacked George Nelson's vomit and blood, so that it could be savored for future generations of mid-century modernist/alcoholic admirers. And while you'd think the bodily fluids of one of the seminal forces of American Modernism isn't something you could put a price tag on, turns out you can. You can get your very own bit-o-
George Nelson for $25,000-- on Craigslist, naturally: Credenza included.
Labels: design
