corporate collecting

Pennsylvania Convention Center Reception Area Settee and chairs by Robert and Barbara Tiffany, lamp by Todd Noe.

When her executive clients enter Dr. Karol Wasylyshyn's Philadelphia office, they encounter an environment enhanced by fine handcrafted furniture: several original chairs, a settee, and a curvaceous, custom-designed stereo pavilion fashioned of wood and rope. "They recognize that it's a different kind of space," says Wasylyshyn, a consulting psychologist specializing in executive effectiveness training. The room "telegraphs the potential for something meaningful to happen there."

Wasylyshyn, who deliberately patronizes local furniture artisans, is actually carrying on – or reviving – a great Philadelphia tradition. In 18th-century Philadelphia, business leaders made a patriotic point of buying locally rather than sending off to Europe for their furnishings, supporting the historic flowering of the furniture and decorative arts here in that period.

Two hundred years later, corporate buying habits have changed. It's a relatively rare thing to find studio-made furniture in the corporate environment. Many factors conspire in this: habit, i.e. systems already set up for purchasing from corporate furniture suppliers; lack of knowledge of hand-made alternatives; and, perhaps, the innate conservatism of the corporate world. For large projects, issues of scale may make thinking outside the box impractical.

On a smaller scale, though, fine handcrafted furniture can and does find its way into corporate settings. The Pennsylvania Convention Center's conference room and waiting area boast furniture all custom-designed and produced in the Philadelphia area. Designer Eric Rymshaw, of Diversified Design, points out a number of places he's seen it happen. Top executives may find such pieces add a touch of sophistication to their suites or conference rooms. Entrepreneurs can be more willing to try something new and different. And some professionals – lawyers, doctors and psychologists such as Dr. Wasylyshyn – use special pieces as a way to make a more personal statement in their offices.

Interior of Bailey Design Group. Designed by Brad Smith.

Many corporations already have serious art collections; some are now beginning to collect fine furniture in the same spirit. Vintage pieces of significant decorative art, by artists such as Wharton Esherick and George Nakashima, promise investment value similar to art investments, while enhancing the office environment.

Rick Snyderman, whose Snyderman Gallery offers studio furniture, crafts and fine art, suggests some other factors in favor of handcrafted furnishing – other than the intrinsic rewards of its beauty, that is. Quality control is much higher: the artisan is intimately familiar with each piece that is made. And, he adds, "If corporations supported studio furniture, it would be a win-win situation. They would get quality work, and the arts community would be supported."

Ultimately, even corporate collecting comes down to individuals – people who get turned on to the possibilities offered by going the handcrafted route. Dr. Wasylyshyn first began buying craft pieces for her home, discovering the pleasures of commissioning custom-designed pieces there. She decidedvto work with some of the same craftspeople, including woodworker Jack Larimore, when moving to her new, Art Deco-era office space. Her clients, she says, are stimulated by the furnishings, and they make for great icebreaking chat. "People have said that this place is a space for big ideas," she says. "There's an optimism they feel, and a feeling of creativity is spawned."

How can more people be enlightened to the possibilities? Shows such as the Philadelphia Furniture & Furnishings Show can play a big educational role. Wasylyshyn speaks to the lingering reservations some might have. Money and efficiency are everpresent concerns in the corporate world. But, in her experience, commissioning pieces to her exact specifications cost no more than buying from standard corporate suppliers. "Many people would be surprised by that," she says. And, for a time-pressed executive, it can be more efficient to sit down with a craftsperson and discuss the needsof a given room, than to "spend weekend after weekend looking for the right piece in showrooms."

Desk commissioned by Attorney Mickey Sherman. Designed by Andrew Peklo.

"It's been an exciting journey for us," she says. "Every piece is so special. We feel we've enhanced our quality of life with these creations."

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