Emil Milan: Midcentury Master

Artist Emil Milan (American, 1922-1985) was a major contributor to the studio craft movement in the 1950s and 60s. He was an innovator in woodworking tools and techniques, and a pioneer in using power tools to boost production. After training to be a sculptor at the Art Students League of New York, he developed and produced a distinctive line of “functional sculpture” – wooden bowls, trays, and serving ware – that captured the essence of Mid-century Modern Design. He stood with now legendary artists and designers like Wharton Esherick, Sam Maloof, Wendell Castle, Charles Eames, George Nakashima, and Bob Stocksdale (among others) in the most important exhibitions of fine craft in America. His wares were tailored for and sold in high-end retailers such as Hammacher Schlemmer, Saks Fifth Avenue and the original Pottery Barn store in Manhattan. After moving to rural Pennsylvania in 1961, he re-emerged as a teacher, mentor, and role model for dozens of successful artists and woodworkers who found inspiration in his teaching, his methods, and his self-sufficient lifestyle close to nature. After fading into obscurity following his death, this book rekindles awareness and appreciation of this remarkable American artist.