Farmhouse style from 1934

In connection with the increasing importance of "down-to-earth" arts and crafts production in the 1930s and the seizure of power by the National Socialists, mass-produced farmhouse parlours were now also in high demand.

In 1934, the furniture manufacturer Schoyerer from Cham commissioned Franz Zell with designs for farmhouse-style bedrooms and parlours. Zell had not had a business relationship with Andreas Schoyerer for almost 20 years. Now, at the age of 70, Zell was producing work drawings and furniture designs again.

The "Zell model" bedroom was created as an example. Here, the cabinet is designed in board construction with square feet. The skirting boards and cornice are profiled. Four panels were provided for painting on the doors. The beds have a board attachment with a curved contour on the headboard. The name "Zell model" shows that the name of the designer and artist played a role and that Zell was a prominent figure.

The "Zell model", like other farmhouse-style furniture, was available in the basic colours blue, green or yellow. This could be ordered painted with different motifs chosen by the client.

Bärbel Kleindorfer-Marx writes about Zell’s farmhouse parlours in her book "Volkskunst als Stil": "In designing the furniture, Zell aimed at an imaginary ideal type of farmhouse furniture that did not follow any Upper Bavarian or even Upper Palatinate models, but reflected a general concept of farmhouse furniture."

Michaela Thomas