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Max Bill

Swiss, 1908-1994

Max Bill was born in Winterthur, Switzerland. After an apprenticeship as a silversmith during 1924–27, he took up studies at the Bauhaus in Dessau under many teachers including Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee and Oskar Schlemmer from 1927 to 1929, after which he moved to Zurich.

After working on graphic designs for the few modern buildings being constructed, Bill built his first work, his own house and studio (1932–3) in Zurich-Höngg. From 1937 onward he was a prime mover behind the Allianz group of Swiss artists.

Bill is widely considered the single most decisive influence on Swiss graphic design beginning in the 1950s with his theoretical writing and progressive work. His connection to the days of modernism gave him special authority. As an industrial designer, his work is characterized by a clarity of design and precise proportions. Examples are the elegant clocks and watches designed for Junghans, a long-term client. Among Bill's most notable product designs is the Ulmer Hocker of 1954, a stool that can also be used as a shelf element, a speaker's desk, a tablet or a side table. Although the stool was a creation of both Bill's and Ulm School designer Hans Gugelot's, it is often called "Bill Hocker" because the first sketch of it on a cocktail napkin was Bill's work.

As a designer and artist, Bill sought to create forms which visually represent the New Physics of the early 20th century. He sought to create objects so that the new science of form could be understood by the senses: that is as a concrete art. Thus Bill is not a rationalist – as is typically thought – but rather a phenomenologist. He made spare geometric paintings, prints and spherical sculptures, some based on the Möbius strip, in stone, wood, metal and plaster. His architectural work included an office building in Germany, a radio studio in Zurich, and a bridge in eastern Switzerland.

Bill continued to produce architectural designs, such as those for a museum of contemporary art (1981) in Florence and for the Bauhaus Archive (1987) in Berlin. In 1982 he also entered a competition for an addition to the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, built to a design by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Pavillon-Skulptur, a large granite sculpture, was installed adjacent to the Bahnhofstrasse, Zürich in 1983. As is often the case with modern art in public places, the installation generated some controversy. Endlose Treppe, a sculpture made of North American granite, was designed for the philosopher Ernst Bloch.

In 1982 he was awarded the Sir Misha Black award and was added to the College of Medallists.

Bill executed many public sculptures in Europe and exhibited extensively in galleries and museums, including a retrospective at the Kunsthaus Zürich in 1968–69. He was the subject of retrospectives at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1974, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City in 1988.

Find vintage Max Bill stools, lighting, and other furniture on 1stDibs.

Average Sold Price
$1,403
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Iconic Designs from Max Bill
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
Max Bill Atomic Chandelier
Max Bill Atomic Chandelier
Max Bill Tulip Floor Lamp
Max Bill Tulip Floor Lamp
Max Bill Limited Edition Hand Signed Photolithography, 1977
By Max Bill
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Max Bill photolithography signed by, circa 1977 Stamped rotogravure reproduction of series by Bolaffiarte. Limited edition of 5000. Exemplary number 4912. Framed
Category

1970s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Max Bill

Materials

Paper

9-armed Ceiling Lamp by Max Bill for Temde, 1960s, Switzerland
By Max Bill, Temde Leuchten
Located in Hagenbach, DE
9-armed Sputnik Ceiling Lamp by Max Bill for Temde, 1960s, Switzerland Elegant and minimal design hanging lamp Lampshade is in good condition and very clean. This lamp works with ...
Category

1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Max Bill

Materials

Metal

Original Vintage Sport Poster Munich Olympics 1972 Max Bill Colour Shape Design
By Max Bill
Located in London, GB
Original vintage sports poster promoting the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich Germany featuring a great minimalist design by the Swiss architect, artist, painter and graphic desig...
Category

1970s German Vintage Max Bill

Materials

Paper

Lampadario Max Bill per Temde anni 60
By Temde Leuchten, Max Bill
Located in Palermo, IT
Bellissima lampada da soffitto dal design Space Age, con struttura in metallo cromato e 10 diffusori a globo in vetro di Murano lattimo, disposti a "grappolo". Adatto a lampadine con...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Max Bill

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Kneuzzargenstull Chair with yellow seat by Max Bill dining chair side chair
By Max Bill
Located in Edogawa-ku Tokyo, JP
Born Winterthur, Switzerland; died 1994. Max Bill's name is often associated with concrete art and environmental design, but he was, so to speak, a Swiss 'un...
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Max Bill

Materials

Wood, Plywood

Mid Century Style ULMER HOCKER Stool by Max Bill Stained in different Color
By Max Bill
Located in Ulm, DE
The Ulm Stool (German: Ulmer Hocker), a timeless masterpiece of Mid-Century Modern design, was created in 1954 by Max Bill, the first rector of the renown...
Category

2010s German Mid-Century Modern Max Bill

Materials

Beech, Birch

Mid Century Style ULMER HOCKER Stool by Max Bill in Notwood and Lacquer Finish
By Max Bill
Located in Ulm, DE
The Ulm Stool (German: Ulmer Hocker), a timeless masterpiece of Mid-Century Modern design, was created in 1954 by Max Bill, the first rector of the renown...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Max Bill

Materials

Nutwood

Mid Century Style ULMER HOCKER Stool with Drawer by Max Bill designed in 1962
By Max Bill
Located in Ulm, DE
The Ulm Stool (German: Ulmer Hocker), a timeless masterpiece of Mid-Century Modern design, was created in 1954 by Max Bill, the first rector of the renown...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Max Bill

Materials

Beech, Spruce

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Creators Similar to Max Bill

More Max Bill Designs
Max Bill Atomic Chandelier
Max Bill Atomic Chandelier
Average Price
$1,754
Number Available
3
Max Bill Atomic Chandelier
By Max Bill
Materials
Glass, Metal, Opaline Glass, Blown Glass, Chrome, Plastic
Styles
Mid Century Modern
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Max Bill Tulip Floor Lamp
Max Bill Tulip Floor Lamp
Average Price
$1,790
Number Available
1
Max Bill Tulip Floor Lamp
By Max Bill
Materials
Aluminum, Glass, Metal
Styles
Mid Century Modern
There's a good reason that the revered Tulip floor lamp by Max Bill (1908–94) looks at once sculptural, painterly and graphic: The Swiss artist behind the elegant fixture was something of a multi-hyphenate talent. Bill was a major proponent of modernist design in Europe and a sculptor whose work has been the subject of exhibitions at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Guggenheim. He also worked as an architect, painter, typeface designer and writer. Product design was just one of ma...
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Max Bill furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Max Bill furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Max Bill furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 28 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 2 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Max Bill were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by BAG Turgi, Rosemarie & Rico Baltensweiler, and Trix and Robert Haussmann. Prices for Max Bill furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $452 and can go as high as $7,050, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,850.
Questions About Max Bill
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Max Bill created many types of items during his career. The Swiss artist worked as a graphic designer creating many compositions indicative of the modern style of the time. In addition, he was an industrial designer who made a variety of decorative objects and furnishings. He is best known for the clocks produced for Junghans, the Ulmer Hocker stool, the Atomic chandelier and the Tulip floor lamp. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Max Bill art, furniture and decorative objects.

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