Design Icons - what is your favourite?

I had seen many photos of the Oseberg ship in books but it had not prepared me for the actual experience of seeing it for real at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. This stunningly beautiful ship was the Ferrari of its day.

The Story of the Isle of Lewis Chessmen

In 1831, the sea carried away a sandbank on the Isle of Lewis off Scotland uncovering a mysterious building that had been buried under the sand. A peasant working nearby found what he concluded to be a collection of Elves and Gnomes. The superstitious highlander then flung down his spade and fled home in horror.

Superstition in Lewis (pronounced "lews") had survived even to that day in a very powerful form. Thus, when the peasant first looked at the group of small ivory figures it was natural that they should appear as the pigmy sprites of Celtic folklore.

He was persuaded by his wife, however, to return to the spot and take the figures home. Later, he then sold them to a local collector who recognized them as chessmen.

There were 78 pieces in all belonging to eight or more sets - 67 of which are now in the British museum with the rest in the national museum in Edinburgh. Experts are unanimous in regarding them as "the most astonishing collection of ancient chessmen in existence.

Who would not want one of these?

Are you Berlin Fritz in disguise, Erik?

LOL no. Just bored.

Breguet watches. Hand made. Beautiful. Horribly expensive. This one machined from a single block of gold.

My interest in design icons is perhaps a little more humble. I don't think cost relates to a classic at all. I think house hold objects as used by the average Joe represented a more realistic Icon of design than a cost no object car or watch.

For instance just this weekend I picked up two classic designs:





Both these will be instantly recognisable. I would put the clock at around 20 years old, I have no idea how far back the originals goes. The light is also old as evidenced by the fitting inside. It may be a humble light but what a design!

I have loads of this stuff around the house.

Leica M cameras. I have 2 M7s and they are just a joy to use. Even the bottom loading of film is easy after a few attempts!

Looking forward to the digitalM later this year.

For something to be an icon, surely it has to be recognisable. Not many people will have even heard of Leica.

quote:

Originally posted by garyi:
My interest in design icons is perhaps a little more humble. I don't think cost relates to a classic at all. I think house hold objects as used by the average Joe represented a more realistic Icon of design than a cost no object car or watch.

For instance just this weekend I picked up two classic designs:


Both these will be instantly recognisable. I would put the clock at around 20 years old, I have no idea how far back the originals goes. The light is also old as evidenced by the fitting inside. It may be a humble light but what a design!

Agreed. Totally.

quote:

Originally posted by garyi:
For something to be an icon, surely it has to be recognisable. Not many people will have even heard of Leica.

But Leica cameras are an icon to those interested in photography just as an icon of a saint is only an icon to (say)a catholic.

God bless Mary Quant!



Mark

Mark,

Brilliant. Simply brilliant.

Erik

Guys

agree with above esp the e -type - for me its the chair, an item we use every day - some are created with such classic simple design from Chipendale to Conran -

Looks stunning Reginald but tell us something about it.

The Red Telephone Box; old Post boxes, especially those built into walls. The oldest which I've found so far is Queen Victoria's reign!

Aston Martin DB5; Electronic calculator; A good old Cup of Tea, is this an Icon?

Beano

Antony what are you favourite designs though? I like the lazy boy style but coming across early examples are quite pricey, I have never been able to justify one.

I would argue that the Polaroid camera is far more of a design icon than leica.

quote:

Originally posted by erik scothron:
Looks stunning Reginald but tell us something about it.

Sorry Erik!
Its a Colnago 'Oro', (thus gold-plated). It was made for and presented to Pope JP2 by Ernesto Colnago, an Italian frame builder who has built for many past and present champions, Eddy Merckx being the most noted. It is equipped with the (then - early 80s) top-of-the-range Campagnolo Super Record components. I would consider it a design classic because it has clean, uncluttered lines, the workmanship is exquisite, and the engineering behind the groupset is peerless (OK, the Shimano buffs may beg to differ, but not at that epoque). I still use my well-looked after 20-year-old Campag Super Record kit. The bike shown is, I grant you, a 'one-off', but Colnagos are just 'right'. They are gorgeous to look at, but also perfectly usable under normal conditions, unlke some of the more outlandish 5 kilo carbon creations which proliferate nowadays.

quote:

Originally posted by Reginald Halliday:
[QUOTE]


Its a Colnago 'Oro', (thus gold-plated). It was made for and presented to Pope JP2

Thanks Reginald. That is some bike. I wonder if the Pope ever used it?

quote:

Originally posted by Beano:
The Red Telephone Box; old Post boxes, especially those built into walls. The oldest which I've found so far is Queen Victoria's reign!

Aston Martin DB5; Electronic calculator; A good old Cup of Tea, is this an Icon?

Beano

Is there a VR wall post box in Bardsea Paul? I think the AM DB5 cost more to make than its retail price if I remember correctly? Maybe a tea bag is a design icon?

quote:

Originally posted by erik scothron:
I wonder if the Pope ever used it?

Doubt it. I believe he was contracted to Leonardo Da Vinci

quote:

Originally posted by Reginald Halliday:

quote:

Originally posted by erik scothron:
I wonder if the Pope ever used it?

Doubt it. I believe he was contracted to Leonardo Da Vinci

Yes, there are drawings of bicycles in Leonardo's notebooks but I have often wondered if they were not later additions made by prankster. Any idea?

Dan Brown's name has been mentioned.....