Among the visually appealing works in tomorrow's auction of Art, Press & Illustrated Books is a fascinating pedagogical workbook in the manner of Kindergarten founder Friedrich Wilhelm August Fröbel's early education classroom exercises.
Kindergarten Work is an accordion-folded book with 55 pages of paper shape, color and formation exercises comprising 16 string-sewn shapes, 14 woven paper designs and 25 origami folds and cut pattern designs. Each of these is mounted to stiff board and most are signed by the owner/creator/teacher Betsy Ranken Doane.
Books such as this--and similarly designed educational blocks created Fröbel--were studied in early childhood by architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies Van Der Rohe.
Thanks to Swann's Art & Illustrated Books specialist Christine von der Linn--and her passion for architecture--for this post.Labels: art books, Art Press and Illustrated Books, Christine von der Linn, Frank Lloyd Wright, Kindergarten, Mies Van Der Rohe
