HIVE SHELVING UNIT Prototypes // Ed. of 10, signed and numbered.
.....................................................................................................................
HIVE SHELVING UNIT / A Painfully Brief History
Designed in 1999 by artist/designer, Chris Ferebee, the Hive Shelving Unit debuted to national and international acclaim in 2000 at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair under the label 521 Design, Ferebee's design studio formed in 1999. Immediately recognized as an innovative and versatile design, the Hive has since been included in exhibitions in the U.S. and Europe along with being cited in numerous design publications worldwide. Design awards for the Hive soon followed including a Design Distinction award for furniture design from I.D. Magazine's Annual Design Review 2001, and a Good Design 2000 Award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design. (GOOD DESIGN is the world's oldest and most prestigious awards program that bestows international recognition to designers and manufacturers for advancing new and innovative product thinking and originality and for stretching the envelope beyond what is considered standard product and consumer design.) The Hive was in 'good' company as other winning designs of the GOOD DESIGN 2000 Award were by Philippe Starck, Antonio Citterio, Ross Lovegrove, Michele De Lucchi, Renzo Piano, Frank Gehry, Knoll, Inc., Nike and Apple Computer, Inc.
The first, and ultimately the last attempt (for the time being) at mass-producing the Hive began in mid-2001 with the manufacturer who produces all of Herman Miller's molded plywood pieces, which include the Eames' LCW, DCW, molded plywood screen and Lounge Chair to name a few. Unfortunately, through a long series of manufacturing disappointments the project was scrapped. Ultimately the manufacturer was unable to handle the intricacies of the design, including the complex nature of compound curves and the tight tolerances of the joinery.
Fast forward to today. We have 3 Hive Shelving Unit prototypes left, (the first of which was sold in Sotheby's auction of Important 20th Century Design, held on June 19th, 2007). These are the remaining three of a total of 10 Hive Shelving Units ever produced from this run. There will be no more produced from the original mold. Each Hive is signed and numbered by the designer. This is a great opportunity for collectors of design to own a piece of design history.
Please feel free to contact us for pricing and further info about the Hive prototypes.
.....................................................................................................................
Overall Dimensions - 42"h x 48"w x 12"d
.....................................................................................................................
"Boasting both sensual curves and sleek lines...the Hive proved to be a highlight of the 2000 ICFF...Ferebee's use of simple materials and manufacturing techniques has drawn some comparisons to Charles Eames."
- Katrina Schwarz / Monument Magazine, Australia
"The whispers about the next Charles Eames are already beginning. [Chris Ferebee's] lithe, bent-plywood modular shelving units and coffee tables wink at the legendary Mr. Eames, but they have their own amazing presence. Mr. Ferebee explores aluminum, felt, composites and more."
- Rob Brinkley / The Dallas Morning News
.....................................................................................................................
More on the Hive at Sotheby's Auction >>
.....................................................................................................................
Grand Rapids, MI 2002. Disassembled in 2003.
.....................................................................................................................
