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Chest of Drawers, "You Can't Lay Down Your Memories," edition number 45

Decorative Arts and Design

This cabinet exemplifies the work of Droog, an informal confederation of Dutch designers founded by Gijs Bakker, a product designer, and Renny Ramakers, an art historian. It consists of recycled drawer fronts inserted in newly constructed wooden boxes held together by a commercial cinch strap. Witty yet functional, it may seem to be merely a mélange of used and new furniture parts, but in fact it is a well-considered composition, balanced in both shape and color. The customer is invited to rearrange the parts at will. Droog’s dramatic and sometimes heretical approach challenges accepted ideas of decorum in design and materials.
MEDIUM Maple, other woods, painted and unpainted metals, plastic, paper, textile
  • Place Made: Netherlands
  • DATES designed 1991; made 2005
    DIMENSIONS 60 x 60 x 30 in. (152.4 x 152.4 x 76.2 cm)  (show scale)
    MARKINGS Maker's mark stamped in blue on outer boxes
    SIGNATURE Signed by the designer
    ACCESSION NUMBER 2005.36
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Joseph F. McCrindle in memory of J. Fuller Feder, by exchange
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Twenty found rectangular drawer fronts of various size and color encased in new maple frame boxes and held together with a wide fabric cinched strap with metal latch at top. From top (clockwise): small natural wood drawer with finial pull, medium white drawer with long bar handle, thin dark brown drawer with dark brown pull, large brown drawer with two pulls, small shiny black drawer, square white drawer with metal D-shaped pull, medium dark brown drawer with metal pull, medium yellow painted metal drawer, small brown drawer, large brown drawer, long thin black drawer with cut-away handle, medium white drawer with D-shaped black handle, small thin grey drawer, large beige drawer with brown horizontal dark brown stripe and square wood handle, square clear drawer, long thin white drawer with finial pull, small blue drawer with black handle and paper labels, medium brown drawer with metal handle, medium white drawer with square red handle.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Tejo Remy (Dutch, born 1960). Chest of Drawers, "You Can't Lay Down Your Memories," edition number 45, designed 1991; made 2005. Maple, other woods, painted and unpainted metals, plastic, paper, textile, 60 x 60 x 30 in. (152.4 x 152.4 x 76.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Joseph F. McCrindle in memory of J. Fuller Feder, by exchange, 2005.36. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2005.36_PS2.jpg)
    EDITION 45/200
    IMAGE overall, 2005.36_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2011
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT © Droog Design
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    Tejo Remy (Dutch, born 1960). <em>Chest of Drawers, "You Can't Lay Down Your Memories," edition number 45</em>, designed 1991; made 2005. Maple, other woods, painted and unpainted metals, plastic, paper, textile, 60 x 60 x 30 in. (152.4 x 152.4 x 76.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Joseph F. McCrindle in memory of J. Fuller Feder, by exchange, 2005.36. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2005.36_PS2.jpg)