Photostory
DESIGN CLASSICS
*The latest design book from Phaidon provides 999 classic designs from the last half century in a beautifully presented and comprehensive three-book set.
051
Swiss Army Knife
1891, Karl Elsener Victorinox
The Swiss Army Knife started its life as a tool for soldiers. Karl Elsener trained as a cutler and provided the Swiss Army with its first delivery of soldier’s knives in 1891. Today, with a range of nearly 100 models bearing homage to Elsener’s original design, the Victorinox brand enjoys the success of the founding ideals of quality, design and function.
203
Pressed Glass 4644
1932, Aino Aalto Karhula, Riihimäki & iittala
In 1932, the Pressed Glass 4644 manufacturing firm of Karhula—which later merged with its sister company, iittala—held a competition to generate publicity and new designs for affordable utility glass. The simple ribbed exterior, praised by Modernists, offered not only form, but also a structural strength and rigidity robust enough for family use.
573
Lincoln Continental
1961, George W. Walker and Eugene Bordinat Ford Motor Company
The introduction of the coolly understated, streamlined Lincoln Continental in 1961 heralded a new era in American car design and effectively brought an end to the earlier fashion of more flamboyant models, such as the Cadillac, which dominated the market. The combination of sleek, graceful elegance and solid dependability earned the car many fans. Even Picasso had one.
151
Cast Iron Cookware
1925, Le Creuset Design Team Le Creuset
Following a tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages, all Le Creuset Cast Iron Cookware is made from enameled cast iron. It is practical and utilitarian in style and material, and its reputation is a result of high standards in traditional manufacturing techniques, and the quality and suitability of the materials used. Available in a range of colors, Le Creuset Cookware has become a symbol for home cooking, quality and the culture of the kitchen as central to domestic life.
413
Gibson Les Paul
1952, Les Paul and Ted McCarty Gibson
Competing against their main rival, Leo Fender, Gibson president Ted McCarty had the idea of attaching a celebrity to Gibson’s first solid-body electric guitar, proving a giant success for the guitar manufacturer. Although the Les Paul design has received a series of fine tunings over the years, it continues to be Gibson’s top-selling electric guitar and has spawned no fewer than eight versions.