organic modernism in glass

At the beginning of his career, Wagenfeld designed mostly glassware: vases, cups, and lamps. These all epitomize so-called organic modernism, which champions smooth shapes paired with high functionality. The most famous creation of this era is a tea service from heat-resistant glass, which Wagenfeld designed with Czech graphic designer Ladislav Sutnar, as well as a blue vase of mouth-blown glass. Both were produced at the Schott & Gen. glassworks in Jena. In 1937, Wagenfeld received the Gold Medal at the International Exhibition of Paris for the vase.

 

Glass vases designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld for the Württembergische Metallwaren Fabrik (WMF) in 1961. Photo: courtesy of Wilhelm Wagenfeld Stiftung.

Glass vases designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld
Teapot designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld

Teapot for Jenaer Glasswerk Schott & Gen, 1931. © Jens Weyers. Photo: courtesy of Wilhelm Wagenfeld Stiftung.

WG 28 lamp. Material: nickel plated metal, glass tube, glass base, chintz covered shade

WG 28 table lamp designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld in 1928 and re-editioned by Technolumen. Material: nickel plated metal, glass tube, glass base, chintz covered shade with conical shade support. © Technolumen.

WST L 30 floor lamp standing next to an armchair
WNL 30 multipurpose lamp on a staircase railing

WNL 30 multipurpose lamp designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld in 1930 and re-editioned by Technolumen. Material: nickel plated metal, opaque glass. © Technolumen.

WST L 30 floor lamp designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld in 1930 and re-editioned by Technolumen. Material: nickel plated metal, black lacquered base, chintz covered shade. © Technolumen.

Created with Sketch.

i consider artistic efficacy in our industries as a personal creative input that does not dissipate in some purportedly original items, but rather must recognize that an anonymous shape can be the perfection of an object. —wilhelm wagenfeld

Wilhelm Wagenfeld explains his award-winning glasses, vases, and cutlery

Wilhelm Wagenfeld explains award-winning glasses, vases, and cutlery, which he designed for the Württembergische Metallwaren Fabrik (WMF), 1965. Photo via Getty Images.

 

from top designer to soviet prisoner and back

Wagenfeld participated in the legendary Metropolitan Museum’s Exhibition of Contemporary Industrial Art in 1930, which had a significant influence on the development of American design. After this, he became a teacher at the government arts college in Berlin and remained there until 1935. During the Second World War Wagenfeld refused to join the Nazi party, and was sent to the Eastern front to fight. Captured by the Russians in 1945, he spent the rest of the war in a Soviet prisoner camp. Afterwards Wagenfeld returned to a prominent position within the German design community, receiving numerous teaching appointments and commissions from design brands.

Salt and pepper shaker designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld

Salt and pepper shaker designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld between 1952-53. Material: glass and cromargan. © Neue Galerie New York.

Cromargan dish designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld

Cromargan dish designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld, 1954. © Neue Galerie New York.

Butter dish designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld. A metal dish with a glass transparent cup

Butter dish designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld for the Württembergische Metallwaren Fabrik (WMF) between 1955-56. Photo: courtesy of Wilhelm Wagenfeld Stiftung.

Egg boiler designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld
Glass designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld
Sintrax, 3/4-Liter coffee maker designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld

Egg boiler designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld for Jenaer Glasswerk Schott & Gen between 1930-34. Photo: courtesy of Wilhelm Wagenfeld Stiftung.

Sintrax, 3/4-Liter Coffee Maker, author: Gerhard Marcks / production: Jenaer Glaswerke Schott & Gen. / enhancement: Wilhelm Wagenfeld, around 1925. Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau / © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2018.

Glass designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld for Vereinigte Lausitzer Glaswerke, 1935. © MoMA.

Baking dish of heat-resistant pressed glass designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld
Orande glass plate designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld

Baking dish of heat-resistant pressed glass designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld, 1932. © Neue Galerie New York.

Glass plate designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld, 1937. © Neue Galerie New York.

Created with Sketch.

objects must do us good and make us take notice and think about them. —wilhelm wagenfeld

Wilhelm Wagenfeld wearing glasses, looking into camera

Wilhelm Wagenfeld, 1956. Photo via Getty Images.

 

complete creative freedom

In 1935 Wagenfeld accepted the position of art director at the United Lausitzer Glass Works in German’s Weisswasser, working there until 1947. Later, in a letter to Walter Gropius, he described this job as the best of his life, saying he’d never enjoyed such total creative freedom. Among his most famous objects created during this period is the stackable Kubus set of storage containers.

Kubus stacking glass containers designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld for Vereinigte Lausitzer Glaswerke, 1938. © 2018 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

Kubus stacking glass containers designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld
Kubus stacking glass containers designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld

Kubus stacking glass containers designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld for Vereinigte Lausitzer Glaswerke, 1938. © Jens Weyers. Photo: courtesy of Wilhelm Wagenfeld Stiftung.

Kubus stacking glass containers designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld
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