John Van Koert


John "Jack" Van Owen Koert was an American designer and artist best known for his mid-century modern furniture lines for Drexel Furniture and for promoting Danish modern design.

Life

John Van Koert was born on July 3, 1912, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to John Henry Van Kort and Eleanor Owen. In 1916 the family moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The family moved to Shorewood, Wisconsin, in 1923.
He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison to study art and sculpture and graduated in 1934. He was elected as lieutenant commander of the Gamma Lambda chapter of the Sigma Nu fraternity in 1932. He joined the faculty there in 1936 and taught art until his enlistment in the army.
Van Koert enlisted as a private in the United States Army for World War II on 3 August 1942. Later, as a staff sergeant, he was known to teach art classes at Camp Davis, North Carolina, and somewhat humorously advertised that a model would be present for the class which, to the apparent disappointment of the attendees, turned out to be a soldier in full gear. After being discharged from the US Army, he did not return to the University of Wisconsin.
After the war, Van Koert moved to New York city to practice metalware design and worked for Towle Silversmiths from 1949 to 1954.
Van Koert died a stroke on October 11, 1998 in Sante Fe, New Mexico, with no immediate survivors. He had no siblings or children.

Art

His first exhibit as an artist was as an undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin. Three of his artworks, Malt House, Barn, and Still Life, were chosen for hanging display in the Class of '30 Trust Art contest in 1932.
Van Koert joined the faculty at the University in 1935 or 1936. Jack made summer trips in 1936 and 1938 to France and England to survey new art materials and painting styles.
In 1937, his oil work Campus Scene received a purchase prize at the Wisconsin Painters Show in the Wisconsin Art Institute.
A number of his works were chosen for display at the Fifth Wisconsin Salon of Art in 1938. His new media Gouache works, Student at Stairways, Two Students, Bathers, and Restaurant were exhibited. Also included were his oil paintings Bascom Hall Bubbler and Corner Store Grocery, an etching Central Park and a lithograph Rirverside Bridge.
His work The Choosing of the County Seat was a mural painted in 1940 above the postmaster’s door at the Neillsville, Wisconsin Post Office. The painting was a part of the Federal Art Project.
Two of Van Kort's work are in the collection of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Concert and Two Girls in Railroad Coach.

Silverwork

Examples of Van Koert's flatware designs are in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. An example of silver service set he designed while at Towle Silversmiths is listed in Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection.

Furniture

Van Koert began his relationship with Drexel Funiture in 1954 with the collaboration resulting in a number of very popular and influential series, in particular the Profile and Projection series, there also being some overlap in the esthetics of the two lines.
Drexel's Casa del Sol Spanish influenced furniture line was introduced in June, 1957. The collection included nearly 80 pieces for the bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms.
The Designer furniture line was introduced in 1964 at the International Home Furnishings Market in Chicago, Illinois.

Patents

From 1951 to 1982, John Van Koert filed more than 40 design patens for his work.
  1. - Design for a Fork or Similar Article - 1951
  2. - Knife or similar article - 1951
  3. - Serving Knife Blade or Similar Article - 1952
  4. - Fork or similar article -1952
  5. - Fork or the like - 1953
  6. - Pitcher or the like - 1954
  7. - Cream pitcher or the like - 1954
  8. - Condiment dispenser or the like - 1954
  9. - Sugar bowl ob the like - 1954
  10. - Candle holder or the like - 1955
  11. - Dresser or similar article of furniture - 1956
  12. - Chest or similar article of furniture - 1956
  13. - Chest or similar article of furniture - 1956
  14. - Bench or similar article of furniture - 1956
  15. - Extension table - 1956
  16. - Drop leaf extension table
  17. - Side chair
  18. - Arm chair
  19. - Desk - 1956
  20. - Coffee table - 1956
  21. - Coffee table - 1956
  22. - Chair - 1956
  23. - Drawer handle or the like - 1956
  24. - Table - 1956
  25. - Bedstead - 1956
  26. - Headboard for beds - 1956
  27. - Female mannequin or the like - 1979
  28. - American beaver sculpture or the like - 1979
  29. - Billard table or the like - 1979
  30. - Combined hurricane lamp and centerpiece or the like - 1979
  31. - Combined candleholder and centerpiece or the like - 1979
  32. - Mirror frame or the like - 1980
  33. - Table or the like - 1980
  34. - Open cabinet or the like - 1980
  35. - Mirror or the like - 1980
  36. - Mirror frame or the like - 1980
  37. - Hanging magazine rack or the like - 1980
  38. - Cabinet or the like - 1980
  39. - Jig saw puzzle or the like - 1981
  40. - Figurine or the like - 1981
  41. - Bird statuette or the like - 1981
  42. - Household storage rack or similar article - 1982