A rare pair of Isokon Stool No. 1 stools / tables, in the version modified by Walter Gropius during his time as Controller of Design for Isokon in Britain, dating from circa 1935–36.

The history of this particular model is especially interesting. An earlier version of Stool No. 1, by an unknown designer, was already being produced and marketed by Isokon before Walter Gropius became involved with the company. During his period in Britain as Controller of Design for Isokon, Gropius revisited the existing stool and made a series of subtle but important alterations to its form, most noticeably changing the radii of the internal openings to create the straighter, more angular geometry seen on these examples.

Gropius's involvement with the design is well documented. His drawings showing the alterations to Stool No. 1 are preserved in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, which also holds an example of the Gropius-modified stool itself. Rather than an entirely new design, these stools therefore represent Gropius's refinement of an existing Isokon model whose original designer remains unknown.

Walter Gropius (1883–1969) was one of the most influential architects and designers of the twentieth century and the founder and first director of the Bauhaus. Following the rise of National Socialism in Germany, he settled in Britain during the mid-1930s, where his relatively brief association with Isokon produced an important but remarkably small body of furniture. In 1937 he moved to the United States, becoming professor and later chairman of architecture at Harvard University and playing an important role in the international spread of Bauhaus ideas. His achievements were recognised with numerous major honours, including the RIBA Royal Gold Medal in 1956 and the AIA Gold Medal in 1959.

A number of the furniture designs Gropius developed during his time with Isokon remained prototypes or were produced only experimentally and never entered sustained serial production. The modified Stool No. 1 is therefore particularly interesting as an example of Gropius applying his ideas to an existing piece of commercially produced furniture.

Constructed from moulded plywood, the stools are remarkably economical in their design. A continuous structure forms the four gently splayed sides, with large rectangular openings reducing the visual weight of the piece while retaining its strength. The straighter internal geometry is one of the details that distinguishes these Gropius-modified examples from the more commonly encountered version of Stool No. 1.

Both stools retain their original removable circular tops. When placed on the stool, the top creates a small occasional table; lifted away, its raised edge allows it to be used independently as a serving tray. The survival of these original tops is particularly important, as even examples of the more commonly encountered, non-Gropius version of Stool No. 1 are difficult to find with their original tops still present.

Although they were not originally a pair, the two examples are remarkably close in colour and patina and work perfectly together. We acquired them separately in the UK, approximately seven years apart. We have collected early plywood furniture for more than twenty years and, during that time, these are the only two examples of this particular Gropius-modified version that we have had the opportunity to acquire.

One of the stools retains its original Venesta paper label to the interior. Venesta's relationship with Isokon was important to the company's early experiments with plywood furniture, with pieces manufactured in Estonia and imported into Britain.

Both examples remain in very good structural condition. The plywood is strong and shows no evidence of previous structural repair, and neither piece has required structural restoration. Both retain their original finish and have simply been carefully cleaned and waxed. The surfaces show the marks, variations and patina expected from approximately ninety years of use, giving the plywood a particularly attractive warm colour.

Despite their original designation as stools, today we see these primarily as important pieces of early plywood furniture rather than everyday seating. They are structurally strong and solid, but given their age and rarity we would not recommend using them as stools. They work exceptionally well as occasional or side tables and, as a closely matched pair, would make particularly interesting bedside tables.

Examples of the Gropius-modified Stool No. 1 are held in important museum collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

For us, these are very special pieces. Finding even the more commonly encountered version of Stool No. 1 retaining its original top is rare, and finding two closely matched examples is rarer still. The Gropius-modified version is considerably more difficult to find. In more than twenty years of collecting plywood furniture, these are the only two examples we have been able to acquire, and we have never previously seen a pair offered for sale.

Bringing together two Gropius-modified examples, both retaining their original removable tray tops and original finish, makes this an exceptionally unusual offering. Their rarity, condition and documented place within the development of Isokon furniture make them museum-quality examples of early British modernist plywood design.

Viewing is warmly welcomed at our West London showroom.

High-resolution photographs, detailed condition reports and video inspections are available upon request.

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Please contact us for further information or to arrange a private viewing.