家具:传奇的
舒利姆科瑞姆珀(Schulim Krimper)
佚名
ANONYMOUS
FURNITURE
The
legendary Schulim Krimper
THE OWNER OF this extraordinary collection
of furniture by furniture maker Schulim Krimper has filled their entire home
with the designers pieces. In every room there are sideboards, dining
tables, chairs, coffee tables or cabinetry. Theres even
built-in joinery by Krimper, designed for the owners
parents.
If
you look under tables or protective cloths, youll find
more Krimper, who made his impact on the Melbourne design scene from the 1940s
through to the 1960s. Originally from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Krimper
designed entire interiors for his Melbourne clientele shortly after he arrived
in 1939.
The
owner recalls how Krimper would arrive in his dustcoat and take extensive
details about what was needed. He wore
gloves, particularly when a certain built-in unit would arrive. And doorways
were always extremely well protected, says the
owner, who started collecting Krimper furniture from the mid-1950s.
Some
of the furniture, such as the six-seater lounge suite in the formal dining area
and the lamp beside it, belonged to the owners
parents. But these whetted the owners
appetite to collect their own Krimper pieces. In most of the rooms there are
dining tables and chairs created by the maker. Forexample,
in the kitchen there are two full dining suites. Buffets, one of the owners
favourite furniture types, can be found in almost every room, including the
bedrooms.
Buffets
show Krimpers
immense talent for joinery, says the
owner, pointing out the drawers with a dovetail-end and the fine brass rods
used to strengthen some of the heavier cupboard doors.
The
owners
first Krimper purchases were a 1960s bookcase made from Queensland walnut and a
daybed from the same period. Theres
no French polishing. Krimper used to wax his furniture. It feels like velvet.
Then there are the more unusual pieces, such as a 1960s cocktail cabinet. One
of the rarest pieces in the collection is a unit custom-designed for the first
television set. Krimper had an exhibition in New York and I had this sent
over.
Difficult
to pigeon-hole, the owner describes Krimpers style
as a fusion of various influences, from Biedermeier to folk-like. Itsquite
organic in feel, but it always celebrates the timber, whether its
Queensland walnut or teak. The depth
and breadth of Krimpers designs
are also impressive. There are tea trolleys, glory boxes, bedheads and even
fine timber bowls and utensils that came as part of a buffet. Some of the
pieces recall another time. With the advent of the mobile phone, Krimpers
telephone table now seems an oddity.
Other
Krimper designs show a fascination for the East. Some of the sideboards and
bedheads are inspired by Japanese pergolas.
Other
pieces feature fine parquetry tops and concealed nooks. But irrespective of the
item, they all show a highly developed talent and understanding of engineering,
allowing even the heaviest drawers to slide with great ease.
Although
having hundreds of Krimper items, the owner hasnt slowed
down their desire to collect more. People hear about this collection through
word of mouth, and rather than pass on their Krimper to a dealer, they contact
this owner to see if theyre
interested. Some pieces are also found at auctions or in stores. However, the
owner can see straight away whether a piece is highly collectable. Theres
a rare chess table in the billiard room or the highly desirable office desk and
chair in the main bedroom with its
chunky glass table top.
While
each of the Krimper pieces are treasured, so are the memories of meeting the
designer and seeing him deliver pieces to the family home. Sometimes
he would meet with a client, take down all the details and go away. You wouldnt
hear from him for two years and thered be a
phone call announcing it was ready, says the
owner. It
was never what you had expected, wellbeyond
your expectations.