The early examples of model G-33, Gräshoppan/Grasshopper by Bergboms and Ralph O Smith & Co continue to be a modern design favorite amongst many. However, it was more than a lamp that made the designer Greta Magnusson Grossman one of our most valued architects, decorators and designers on the other side of the Atlantic.
Greta Magnusson was born January 1, 1906 in Helsingborg. In 1928, she began the furniture architecture education at the Higher School of Art/Konstfack in Stockholm. She then continued as a cabinetmaker's apprentice. She applied for employment at Nordiska Kompaniet but was refused by the head of the furniture office, Axel Einar Hjorth, as the reason stated: "there are no facilities for women".
She then chose to start her own shop and workshop together with her fellow student Erik Ullrich. In 1933 "Studio" was open at Stureplan, Stockholm. They received many private and public commissions. In the same year, she married jazz musician and orchestra leader Billy Grossman.
In 1940, she and her husband left wartime Europe for California. On North Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, the couple opened Magnusson-Grossman Studio, a store with her own production as well as imported design objects from Sweden. Her business card had the text: "Swedish modern furniture, rugs, lamps and other home furnishings". Among her clients were many of Hollywood's acting elite, such as Ingrid Bergman, Greta Garbo and Joan Fontaine.
Among other things, during this time she did assignments for Glenn of California (62-series), Sherman Bertam, Modern Line Inc and Bergboms in Sweden. Her series of lamps for Barker Brothers as well as a chair became part of MoMa's exhibition "Good Design" and won an award for her Cobra lamp. The lamps were later produced by Ralph O Smith.
Between 1949-1959, Grossman also worked as an architect and interior designer. One of her best qualities was building houses on difficult terrain and she was appreciated for her experimental boldness. The Hurley Residence and Kiernan House are great examples of her ability to build on hillsides. Open floor plans, movable walls and built-in storage were well suited to the modern Californian lifestyle. The Swedish couple Sundin saw Grossman's work in the US and asked her to build a villa for them. After engineer Sundin succeeded in convincing the Swedish authorities, the house was completed in 1959. Villa Sundin is the only building made by Grossman on Swedish soil, came on the market in 2014 Of at least 16 houses designed by her, 10 remain, mainly in Los Angeles.
She taught courses in industrial design at the University of California, UCLA and The Art Center School during the 1950s. In 1966, the Grossmans moved to Leucadia, north of San Diego, and stayed away from the design scene. In August 1999, Greta Magnusson Grossman passed away, 20 years after her life partner Billy.
Curious about more? Read: Greta Magnusson Grossman- A Car and Some Shorts by Andrea Codrington, 2010, Architecture Museum STHLM. A big thank you to R20th Century Gallery, New York who spent about a decade highlighting Greta Magnusson Grossman's work.
Portrait of Greta Magnusson from Grossman Archives / R & Company. 1958 Hurley House, Lake Hollywood and Kiernan House taken by John Hartley. Furniture from Wright20 Auctions.
November 2, 2023
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