On the Road – Palm Springs

By Lee Kovel

Palm Springs, California, is a midcentury design destination. It has the highest concentration of postwar buildings in the United States, including the famed homes of Rat Packers like Frank Sinatra. The best part is you can ride the wave of design (modern term for the decorative arts) without spending a lot of money and eat some great food while you’re at it. Hotels are affordable and new restaurants are popping up every year.

My house in Los Angeles was built in the 1950s and I have long admired and collected design from the era. This year, I timed my trip with the Palm Springs Modernism Show and Modernism Week held once a year in February. The show goes far beyond the four walls of the convention center and is a showcase of the things that are all around Palm Springs. The show has a casual atmosphere and dealers are more than happy to talk to you about the period and pieces in their booths. The weather this time of year is perfect — a great escape for those who live in colder climates. Here are some places to visit and some interesting objects I found during my trip.

 

Modernism Week

Visitors can attend lectures, house tours, and there are many modernism dealers in town. If you want to go on the house tours during Modernism Week make sure to book ahead. Time slots fill up quickly! ModernismWeek.com.

 

Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale

The show has wonderful examples of midcentury design and prices are fair. There were 85 dealers offering furniture, decorative and fine arts representing all design movements of the 20th century. You can easily walk in town to the shops and galleries from the convention center.

 

Palm Springs Convention Center

277 N. Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, CA 92262

February 16–19, 2018

Winter.PalmSpringsModernism.com

 

Palm Springs Art Museum

101 Museum Dr., Palm Springs, CA 99262

The Palm Springs Art Museum is located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs. The museum has an extraordinary permanent collection with a focus on contemporary and modern American art.

 

Architecture and Design Center

300 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262

PSMuseum.org

The design center is at the restored Santa Fe Federal Savings and Loan branch designed by desert architect E. Stewart Williams in 1960. The 13,000-square-foot glass and steel building embodies modernism.

 

 

 

THIS CALDER WALL HANGING caught my attention. It was made in Africa while Calder was there working on a special project in the 1960s and ‘70s.

THE BEST MODERN AMERICAN JEWELRY at the fair was found Mark McDonald’s booth.

I recognized these CANDLESTICK HOLDERS immediately. My mother owns a set and it was recently featured as a “What’s it” on Kovels.com. These three-legged German candlesticks from the 1960s are sold in a box with three holders and thin candles. They can be joined together in geometric towers.

 
This CHAIR was one of a pair made by Arizona designer Allen Ditson and his wife Lee Porizo had a price tag of $12,000. A picture is leaning on the chair.

A booth with a selection of knives with BAKELITE HANDLES and steel blades.

After the museum, I stopped at Porter & Plunk Antiques & Decorative Arts and found this ROSENTHAL DINNERWARE set that included 12 plates, 14 saucers, and 7 cups for $650.

 


 

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