UltraModern

Although Samuel Abraham Marx was born at the end of the 19th century, he had the eye of a modernist – as an architect, furniture designer, connoisseur and collector. His vision was neither ostentatious or grandiose, but subtle and quietly magnificent. Ultra-Modern, Samuel Marx: Architect, Furniture Designer, Connoisseur is the first monograph on this lesser-known but increasingly influential American designer. In more than 200 photographs, Marx expert and decorative arts dealer Liz O’Brien reveals many of his undiscovered projects including houses that have been raised despite preservationist protests and his range of furniture designs. Marx was also sought after for his ability to integrate art in well-heeled interiors. The private art collections of many of his wealthy clients have, in the last 40 years, been dispersed to major museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, as well as the Chicago Art Institute.