New Bella WINTER 2025: Farnsworth
Our second new introduction of 2025 takes us from the richness of the sea to the understated elegance of the design and architecture of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe - the famed German architect with Chicago roots.
MEET FARNSWORTH
While Farnsworth is tied to Mies van der Rohe’s design, its story is really about Edith Farnsworth and her “country retreat” house in Plano, IL just outside of Chicago.
Musician, translator, doctor and patron of the arts are just a few of the words used to describe Farnsworth who was born well over 100 years ago in 1903. A woman ahead of her times, she was a classically trained violinist who chose not to marry or have children but rather studied in Italy, traveled throughout Europe and went on to become one of the leading kidney research doctors in the world.
While visually minimal, the house’s structure is quite complex. Ensconced by nature along the banks of the Fox River, it is raised 5 feet 3 inches above ground and its thin I-beam supports draw contrast with the surrounding trees.
Today, the house museum is a pilgrimage site for any lover of architecture and design worldwide and is considered one of the most important Modern assets in the United States. It welcomes thousands of visitors each year and is registered on the National Trust for Historic Preservation. And in the artistic spirit of which it was built, the house also hosts annual Artists in Residence and outdoor exhibitions to foster the intersection of art and architecture.
Our six new profiles with 9/16” faces model the quiet luxury of the house itself. The silver and gold etched frames are available with three sides including charcoal, walnut and natural - a nod to the modern juxtaposition of art and nature in the house itself.
We couldn’t resist using it to frame some classic Ludwig Mies van der Rohe prints and architectural drawings, but its simple elegance would make it an ideal frame for fine art, photography or anything else your heart desires.
As both Farnsworth and Mies van der Rohe demonstrated, sometimes the best results come from thinking outside of the box.
