Legendary Rye artist Irving Harper dies at 99

Irving Harper, a pioneer in modern interior design, died Tuesday at the age of 99.

Harper, who lived in Rye for more than 60 years, made notable contributions to the modernist movement that are still relevant today. His 1949 ball clock and 1956 Marshmallow sofa can still be found in homes around the world.

With furniture designs straight out of a Mad Men set, Harper enjoyed a successful career working for designer George Nelson from 1947 to 1963. Under Nelson's guidance, Harper worked primarily with Herman Miller furniture company.

In 1964, Harper left Nelson's company to start his own business. He retired in 1983 and began focusing on his sculpture work.

He would often use simple construction paper and Elmer's glue to create his complex sculptures, the last of which came in 2000 — when he claimed he ran out of room to put them inside his house.

After decades of keeping his designs private, Harper agreed to display his sculptures at the Rye Arts Center gallery from September 2014 to January 2015. Many of the sculptures were auctioned off at an event in January.

"As a hobby, he created hundreds of intricate paper sculptures many of which the Rye Arts Center had the honor of sharing with thousands of visitors last year," Rye Arts Center director Meg Rodriguez said. "He was a master of conveying whimsy and wit through his art, and was a kind and generous spirit."

Harper and his wife, Belle, moved from Greenwich Village and into their 19th century Rye farmhouse in 1954.

"The house was called 'Hidden House' when I came and looked at it," Harper said in a January interview. "It was definitely hard to find. I thought, 'I'd love to be hard to find,' so I bought it. And I've never regretted it."

Belle, his wife of 69 years, died in 2009. Harper had been living alone at the Rye farmhouse ever since.

He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband.