Architect and designer Kem Weber arrived in the United States in the vanguard of a wave of progressive Central European talents — among them, Rudolph Schindler, Richard Neutra, Paul T. Frankl and Ilonka Karascz — who would profoundly affect the course of modernism in the United States. In his new home, Weber created a wholly American form of modern design that is sleek and stylish, yet comfortable and practical.
Karl Emanuel Martin Weber — “Kem” was his self-styled nom d’usage — was born and trained in Berlin. In 1914, he became an accidental immigrant to the U.S.. Sent to San Francisco by his teacher-turned-employer, architect Bruno Paul, to oversee an installation at a global design expo, Weber was marooned by the outbreak of World War I. But he quickly grew to love California, even if his early years there were difficult. When design commissions were hard to find, he took jobs as a lumberjack, chicken farmer and art school teacher. (He gained U.S. citizenship in 1924.)
In the mid-1920s, while working for the Los Angeles–based Barker Bros. department store — the largest furniture retailer in the country at the time — Weber regularly traveled around the nation to deliver lectures on modernism. His reputation as a champion of a new, clean and elegant style earned him architectural commissions and contracts to design furniture and items such silverware, coffee services and cocktail shakers. His masterpiece is the Airline lounge chair, designed 1934-1935. With its raked, gently angular frame and cantilevered seat, the chair suggests movement, speed and forward progress. Though it seemed perfect for mass production, Weber was never able to convince a major manufacturer to take it on. In the end, fewer than 300 Airline chairs were made. Today, those may be the rarest examples of Weber’s work, but are always worth looking out for. As you will see on these pages, his designs are both intelligent and stylish. They deserve to be a part of any serious collection of American modernism.
$4,400Sale Price|20% Off
1930 Art Deco Silver Plate & Marble Model 975 Digital Mantel Clock by Lawson
By Kem Weber
Located in Van Nuys, CA
An early circa 1930s cyclometer model 975 electric digital clock housed in a wonderful silver architectural case with stepped chromed Art Deco accents and a marble base.The Lawson Ta...
Onyx, Silver Plate, Brass
Vintage Art Deco Mantel Clock
Located in San Diego, CA
Elegant vintage Art Deco mantel clock with a German Hermie movement, circa 1950s. The clock is in very good vintage condition and holds a...
Glass, Wood
Art Deco ATO Mantel Clock
By ATO
Located in Norwich, GB
Art deco ATO clock standing on a three tiered Bakelite base supporting a glass dial with Art Deco style chrome numerals and chrome chapter ring. The movement is powered by a 1.5...
Chrome
Art Deco Mantel Clock
By Kienzle Clocks
Located in Vienna, AT
Original condition, perfect working Softwood covered with nutveneer attributed to Kienze
Nutwood, Softwood
Large French Art Deco Marble Mantel Clock
By Demetre Chiparus
Located in Vienna, AT
French Art Deco marble mantel clock still in original condition. Bronzed metal, ivory imitation and various types of stone, in the...
Marble, Brass
$1,937Sale Price|35% Off
H 9.06 in W 21.26 in D 6.7 in
Guillard Chimney Mantel Art Deco Clock with Site Plates
Located in Vienna, AT
Guillard marble mantel clock with brass applications showing chestnut leaves and nuts, with pendulum, width: 54 cm, height: 32 cm. With two Art Deco marble side plates, with bronze ...
Marble, Brass
Art Deco Oak & Chrome Mantel clock
By Smiths English Clock Systems
Located in Dereham, GB
Art Deco Oak & chrome Mantel clock, circa 1930s Cream & Silver face, Chrome frame oak case with chrome sail design each side Recently serviced, keeps good time Recently polished
Chrome
$3,101
H 12.6 in W 14.57 in D 4.34 in
1920s -1930s Art Deco Mantel Clock - in wonderful restored condition
By Marti
Located in Greven, DE
Art Deco Mantel Clock France Marble, Metal Art Deco around 1930 Dimensions: H × W × D: 32 × 37 × 11 cm Description: Representative French pendule in an expressive design from the ...
Marble, Metal
Art Deco Marble Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Classic Art Deco mantle clock standing on a beige marble base with black inserts. A gilded dog is leaping over the clock. Gilded dial with ‘Deco’ numerals and original ‘Deco’ han...
Marble
$840
H 8.63 in W 20.88 in D 3.38 in
French Art Deco Marble Onyx Mantel Clock with Gazelles Signed Ucra 1930s
Located in Miami, FL
French Art Deco Marble Onyx Mantel Clock with Gazelles Signed Ucra 1930s Offered for sale is a French Art Deco marble and onyx mantel clock with French white metal gazelles on eithe...
Onyx, Marble, Metal
Art Deco Marble Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Art Deco Mantel Clock Art Deco mantel clock house in a finely figured marble stepped case with applied Art Deco style brass mounts. Rectangular brass bezel opening to t...
Marble
$1,670
H 16.93 in W 20.48 in D 4.93 in
Art Deco Mantel Clock with Bird Sculpture, Marble, France circa 1930
Located in Regensburg, DE
Original, well-preserved Art Deco mantel or table clock from France around 1930. Marble base in dark (Porto) and light marble. At the top a spelter cast of an albatross bird sculptur...
Marble, Brass, Spelter
Art Deco Marble Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Art Deco mantel clock Art Deco mantel clock standing on a black, green and cream marble base featuring a maiden training a dove. Chrome bezel with convex glass opening to...
Marble
KEM Weber Model 304 "Zephyr" Digital Clock by Lawson, circa 1934
By Kem Weber, Lawson
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Art Deco / Streamline design,, Cast aluminum and brass .. Machine Age design electric clock designed in the 1930s. stylized numbers in a digital form with the seconds wheel....
Aluminum, Brass
Sold
H 4 in W 13 in D 4 in
Art Deco Silver and Marble Digital Mantel Clock Model 975 by Lawson, Circa 1930
By Kem Weber
Located in Van Nuys, CA
An early circa 1930s cyclometer model 975 electric digital clock housed in a wonderful silver architectural case with stepped chromed art deco accents and a marble base. Introducing...
Onyx, Silver Plate, Brass
KEM Weber Model 304 "Zephyr" Copper Digital Clock by Lawson, circa 1934
By Kem Weber
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Great design burnished bronze and brass with ivory enameled trim fantastic Machine Age design electric clock designed in the 1930s. Great Art Deco stylized numbers in a digital form ...
Copper