Lot 189
JOHN REID (BRITISH 1925-1992) FOR GEORGE FORREST & SON, LONDON
FORREST MODERN PENDANT CEILING LIGHT, c.1954
Auction: 30 October from 10:00 GMT
Description
model FM7001, one shade stamped BRIT REGD DESIGN 868453, red enamelled aluminium shades, black anodised aluminium tube, cord and adjustable clamps with brass handles
Dimensions
48.5cm high, 51cm wide (19 1/8in high, 20in wide)
Provenance
From a Private Collection of Post-War British Lighting.
Footnote
Literature:
Architectural Review, March 1955, pp.214-6, for an example of this model in a different orientation.
A rare model, this is the only known surviving example at the time of writing.
The Forrest Modern range belongs to the formative period of John & Sylvia Reid’s design partnership. Although the fittings were designed by John Reid and consequently attributed to him, Sylvia Reid designed the accompanying catalogues through which the range was presented to architects, retailers and customers.
Soon afterwards, the Reids adopted the practice of crediting their architectural and design work jointly. This is important when considering their careers retrospectively: while early commissions sometimes carry an individual attribution, their mature practice was founded upon shared authorship. The design of an object and the way in which it was communicated and brought to market formed complementary parts of the same undertaking.