Sturegatan to Sunset: Greta Magnusson Grossman and the Immigration of Style

Greta Magnusson Grossman, USA, 1949

This chaise longue had a short production run and was one of the last fully upholstered pieces that Grossman designed, similar to another chaise with wrought iron feet she created around the same time. There are a few photographs of this version, produced by Sherman Bertram. Its scale is unusual in comparison to other chaise longues because it is wide and short, almost like a love seat. This piece can be seen in a sketch Grossman created for the residence of Frank Sinatra, alongside the floor lamp also on this show. The present example is upholstered with “Max” fabric designed and handwoven by rruka.

Chaise lounge in ivory upholstery with button tufting and tapered wooden feet. Designed by Greta Magnusson Grossman for Sherman Bertram, USA, circa 1949.
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Greta Magnusson Grossman, USA, circa 1952

This desk, designed for Glenn of California in 1952, is the epitome of Grossman’s pairing wrought iron details with beautifully figured walnut into a balanced composition. This specific piece is unique in that it does not have the black laminate top normally present in the model, meaning it was a special order and not a production piece. This desk ultimately symbolizes Grossman’s full dive into California modernism while at the same time keeping her particular asymmetric approach. The petite scale suggests this desk was meant for a home, as Grossman was committed to modernizing the home office and worked from home herself.

Desk in walnut and wrought iron with pencil box. Designed for Glenn of California.
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Greta Magnusson Grossman, USA, 1950

This lamp, marketed initially as Lamp style No. 903-T and sold as a partnership between Ralph O. Smith Modern Lamps and Fixtures and Magnusson Grossman Design, utilizes the Cobra and the bullet-shaped shades, as well as innovative flexible arms. The collection was available in ten colors, including the pistachio green of this model that was ever-present in that period as a modern and fashionable hue.

Table lamp in enameled aluminum on a chrome-plated steel base with one cone shade and one "Cobra" shade.
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Greta Magnusson Grossman, USA, 1948

This floor lamp designed by Greta Magnusson Grossman and sold by Barker Brothers became such a ubiquitous part of the California domestic landscape at the time that it even appeared in the popular comic strip “Mary Worth,” as part of a thoroughly modern bedroom. Grossman used this lamp in many of her interiors, and it can be seen in a sketch for the residence of Frank Sinatra, alongside the chaise longue also in this show.

Floor lamp in enameled aluminum on a chrome-plated steel base with two cone-shaped shades.
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Greta Magnusson Grossman, USA, 1952

The same year that Greta Magnusson Grossman won the Museum of Modern Art’s “Good Design” designation in 1952 for the chair she designed for Glenn of California, she developed a comprehensive collection called the “62 Series” for the company, so named because Glenn’s founder and owner Bob Baron felt it was ten years ahead of its time. The prolific designer additionally created this line of dressers for the company, in which the feet structure gives lightness and dynamism to the piece. At the same time, the drawer knobs provide a modern twist.

Double dresser with eight drawers in walnut on wrought iron legs. Designed by Greta Magnusson Grossman for Glenn of California, Los Angeles, 1952.
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Greta Magnusson Grossman, USA, 1941

This kidney-shaped sofa was created by Greta Magnusson Grossman in Sweden and redesigned between 1941 and 1942 for Barker Brothers in Los Angeles. She still favored the curved lines of her Swedish production, but this sofa also reveals a possible influence of Hollywood Regency furniture, which comes as no surprise since Grossman very quickly became a part of the Golden Era scene. With a showroom on North Rodeo Drive inaugurated in 1941, she attracted celebrity clients such as Greta Garbo, Joan Fontaine, and Gracie Allen. The present model was acquired from a family estate in San Angelo, Texas.

Curved sofa in ivory bouclé upholstery with button tufted backrest. Designed by Greta Magnusson Grossman for Barker Brothers, Los Angeles, 1941-42. Upholstered with "Pebble Wool" fabric in Eggshell, designed by Maharam.
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Greta Magnusson Grossman, USA, 1947

In 1948, Greta Magnusson Grossman stated that to create furniture that could blend all periods. Her solution was not to mix different styles but to develop a unique look. Such is the case with this very rare armchair that Grossman designed for Barker Brothers in 1947, the year they opened Modern Shop. The armchair does combine the typical Scandinavian arm “swoop” with the ease of the California coast, but it is conceived as a new and innovative design. The piece was part of the Multi-Unit Pacific Line, created by Grossman for Barker in Ash wood with a “Palomino” stain finish, which gives the wood a golden sheen.

"Palimino" lounge chair with original hand-woven upholstery on a wood frame.
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Greta Magnusson Grossman, USA, 1948

The Cobra table lamp was notably included in the inaugural Good Design exhibition at MoMA in 1950. In addition, the Cobra was selected for MoMA’s Design for Use European roadshow in 1951, showcased at the American Pavilion of the 1951 Milan Triennale, and listed as one of the “Popular Sellers from Good Design 1950-1954” in the Good Design 5th anniversary publication. The Cobra was one of Grossman’s first collaborations with lighting company Ralph O. Smith, a small father-and-son machine shop in Burbank, California, which would make most of her lighting fixtures, as well as of other modern designers like Olga Lee.

"Cobra" table lamp in enameled aluminum on a chrome-plated steel base. Manufactured by Ralph O. Smith, California, 1948. Signed with decal label to shade: [Patent Pending].
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Greta Magnusson Grossman, USA, 1948

In the late 1940s, Grossman designed a groundbreaking and successful line of lamps for Barker Brothers, produced by Ralph O. Smith in Burbank, California. This lamp was later sold directly by its makers, announced as a partnership between Magnusson Grossman Design and Ralph O. Smith MFG Co. Originally called the Style No. 732, this lamp used components that Grossman would rearrange for use on various models. Despite the success of these works, however, the Smiths’ limited production facilities meant that all elements were produced in a rather small quantity.

Task lamp in aluminum and brass with original dark green paint. Designed for Ralph O. Smith, Burbank, California.
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Greta Magnusson Grossman, USA, 1949

This wall or ceiling version of Greta Magnusson Grossman’s famous Cobra lamp was made by Ralph O. Smith and initially sold at Barker Brothers. With the success of Grossman’s designs, however, the father-and-son team based in Burbank grew to be a retailer in its own right. The lamp was then advertised as a direct partnership between Ralph O. Smith Modern Lamps and Fixtures, and Magnusson Grossman Design. Originally called Fixture No. 905, this model Cobra could be swiveled to a vertical position for indirect light or to light wall works, or turned downwards to serve as a desk light.

"Cobra" wall-mounted lamp in aluminum and steel, original paint in excellent condition. Designed for Ralph O. Smith.
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Greta Magnusson Grossman, USA, 1952

The same year that Greta Magnusson Grossman won the Museum of Modern Art’s “Good Design” designation in 1952 for the chair she designed for Glenn of California, she developed a comprehensive collection called the “62 Series” for the company, so named because Glenn’s founder and owner Bob Baron felt it was ten years ahead of its time. The prolific designer additionally created this line of dressers for the company, in which the feet structure gives lightness and dynamism to the piece. At the same time, the drawer knobs provide a modern twist.

Single dresser in walnut on wrought iron legs. Designed by Greta Magnusson Grossman for Glenn of California, Los Angeles, 1952.
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