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

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.

 

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