designer :: Kienzle, Wilhelm

vintage item::

A 1950s Swiss design metal vase with pure, architectural lines. The vase and stand have a total height of 15.7 inches and a diameter of 7.9 inches. The vase & base are seperate components and in light of the time period, it was quite revolutionary in use of the material, aluminum.

In the 1930s, the Swiss design store sponsered a competition for use of alluminum in everyday design. Marcel Breuer's design for his lounge chair was the winner. This vase is a continum of the Swiss design tradition of finding innovative uses of "industrial" materials for the home.

The vase is not signed, however, it could be a design of the Swiss architect, Wilhelm Kienzle. Kienzle designed a series of products in aluminum for the manufacturer, MEWA. In purchasing this vase, one is not only purchasing a superb example of mid-century Swiss design but also an important example of the development in 20th century design history.

The vase has some wear to enamel.

height ::

15.7 in

(39.9 cm)

diameter ::

7.9 in

(20.1 cm)

condition ::

patina to metal vase

 

quantity ::

1

 

shipping ::

calculate shipping cost

 

 

price ::

$320.00

 

 

about the designer :: Kienzle, Wilhelm

Wilhelm Kienzle is one of the most revered Swiss industrial designers of the 20th century. His studies and work were mainly focused in Switzerland and Germany, including a stint with Peter Behrens. His designs are the epitome of 20th century Swiss design, inspired by the Bauhaus, clear, clean lines that are intelligent solutions for living. Kienzle was also the director of the Swiss model of the Bauhaus school, the "Kunstgewerbeschule" / School of Applied Arts.