May 05, 2016 - Sale 2413

Sale 2413 - Lot 25

Price Realized: $ 1,040
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 300 - $ 400
NYC'S MODERN MUSEUM OF ART: "TOO MUCH GLASS" (ARCHITECTS.) GOODWIN, PHILIP L. Typed Letter Signed, to the first director of the Modern Museum of Art in NY Alfred H. Barr, Jr., sending blueprints of portions of the MoMA [not present], requesting input concerning certain design decisions, complaining about lack of agreement about staircase placement, proposing a telephone system, and, in a postscript, noting that deadlines have changed due to Board of Design demands. 2 pages, 4to, personal stationery, written on rectos only of two sheets; some scattered small holes and tears with minor loss to text, minor chipping to edges of second leaf, even toning overall, horizontal folds; cloth chemise and slipcase. New York, 4 May 1937
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Additional Details

". . . I . . . wish to send you the two enclosed blueprints, one showing the back with the glass extending down to the three foot point on the second and third floor rear, to compare with the rear elevation in your set; and a revision of the entrance with doors on the diagonal. . . .
"Please let me know your reaction to the diagonal entrance, etc., and the glass arrangement on the rear? I feel that we are getting too much glass . . . . In particular, on the third floor, a combination of clerestory and top light might give a quite unpleasant light . . . .
". . . I wish to repeat that when you brought back the question of the stairs in the front, the plans had already been figured out . . . .
"Secondly, the schedule that Lowry had given for the drawings and the beginning of the work, made it impossible to make this change and study it and get the working drawings ready anywhere nearly on time. . . .
"Also, several people had dwelt at length on the desirability of a good exhibition wall near the window, and facing the entrance. I discarded several schemes in order to work this in, only to find that the staircase in the front was revived by persons unaware of this. . . . [W]e had all agreed that a gaping staircase was not an agreeable thing on entering . . . .
"I am collecting samples and suggestions for various materials, such as floor finishes, stair treads, window types, light control and protection for windows, etc., and would be glad to have your suggestions on any of these. . . ."