Organic Design Competition
The MoMA's groundbreaking exhibition
In 1940, the Museum of Modern Art in New York inaugurated the groundbreaking Organic Design competition to “discover good designers and engage them in the task of creating a better environment for today’s living.” The museum collaborated with several manufacturers and department stores to produce and distribute the winning designs.
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen submitted collections to two categories – seating for a living room and other furniture for a living room – and won first prize for both for their use of innovative technologies and new manufacturing processes set their works apart. Thee designs dramatically influenced the trajectory of modern furniture design and greatly informed the future careers of both designers.
A design may be called organic when there is a harmonious organization of the parts within the whole, according to structure, material and purpose. Within this definition there can be no vain ornamentation or superfluity, but the part of beauty is none the less great – in ideal choice of material, in visual refinement, and in the rational elegance of things intended for use.
Eliot Noyes
Works by Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames for MoMA's Organic Design Competition
Fishbone pendant
$10,000–15,000
brooch
$15,000–20,000
Wish Bone pendant
$10,000–15,000
bracelet
$5,000–7,000
103
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen
chair from the Museum of Modern Art Organic Design Competition
estimate: $15,000–20,000
result: $50,400
120
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen
storage units for the Organic Design Competition
estimate: $10,000–15,000
result: $23,750
7
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen
Important and rare table for the Organic Design Competition
estimate: $10,000–15,000
result: $25,000
248
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen
high back armchair from the Museum of Modern Art Organic Design Competition
estimate: $50,000–70,000
result: $48,000
123
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen
storage unit for the Organic Design Competition
estimate: $5,000–7,000
result: $16,250
15
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen
Rare pair of chairs from the Organic Design Competition
estimate: $30,000–50,000
result: $32,500
316
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen
storage units for the Organic Design Competition, set of three
estimate: $5,000–7,000
result: $6,875
655
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen
storage unit from the Organic Design competition
estimate: $7,000–9,000
result: $10,625
103
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen
chair from the Museum of Modern Art Organic Design Competition
estimate: $15,000–20,000
result: $50,400
120
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen
storage units for the Organic Design Competition
estimate: $10,000–15,000
result: $23,750
7
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen
Important and rare table for the Organic Design Competition
estimate: $10,000–15,000
result: $25,000
248
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen
high back armchair from the Museum of Modern Art Organic Design Competition
estimate: $50,000–70,000
result: $48,000
123
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen
storage unit for the Organic Design Competition
estimate: $5,000–7,000
result: $16,250
15
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen
Rare pair of chairs from the Organic Design Competition
estimate: $30,000–50,000
result: $32,500
316
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen
storage units for the Organic Design Competition, set of three
estimate: $5,000–7,000
result: $6,875
655
Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen
storage unit from the Organic Design competition
estimate: $7,000–9,000
result: $10,625