The New York City–based tableware company Swid Powell produced some of the most distinctive china and silver of the 1980s in collaboration with international architects and designers. It enjoyed renewed attention in 2007, when the Yale University Art Gallery mounted the exhibition “The Architect’s Table: Swid Powell and Postmodern Design,” celebrating the donation to its collection of the company’s papers.
Swid Powell was established in 1982 by Nan Swid and Addie Powell, who met while working at the modernist furniture company Knoll. Their idea was to translate the aesthetics of postmodern design from the skyscraper to the dining table, and they brought into their preliminary discussions nine prominent architects. Among these were Philip Johnson, Stanley Tigerman and Richard Meier, all of whom expressed enthusiasm about making their designs accessible beyond the small group with the funds to commission buildings from them.
The first Swid Powell collection was launched in 1984, accompanied by a bold, graphic print campaign in keeping with the era’s advertising trends. The company’s best-known collaboration was with Robert Venturi’s Philadelphia-based firm, Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates, whose patterns — particularly the floral design Grandmother inspired by a tablecloth Venturi saw at the home of a colleague's grandmother — adorned Swid Powell porcelain as well as furniture and clothing.
The firm also partnered with architect Richard Meier, whose geometric designs were inspired in part by those of Josef Hoffmann and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Swid Powell also worked with Arata Isosaki, Ettore Sottsass, Zaha Hadid and George Sowden, creating products that incorporated the bright, saturated colors and popular and historical references, like Classical columns, that animated postmodern design in the 1980s. The Chicago Blue china pattern designed for Swid Powell by the firm Gwathmey Siegel references the distinctive patterns of Frank Lloyd Wright’s leaded glass windows. As you will see in the examples below, Swid Powell continued to produce fine, fashionable homewares throughout the decade and beyond.
Swid Powell Italian Silver Plated Chrome Picture Frame by Richard Meier
By Swid Powell, Richard Meier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Swid Powell Floating Picture Frame by Richard Meier is a masterclass in refined modern design—architectural in spirit and minimal in execution. Created for Swid Powell, the fram...
Silver Plate, Chrome
Steven Holl Patinated Bronze Candlestick for Swid Powell rare Postmodern Memphis
By Swid Powell, Steven Holl
Located in San Diego, CA
patinated bronze candlestick designed by American architect Steven Holl for Swid Powell c.1980's , very rare tall candlestick hard to find very collectible in a verdigris finish stamped at the bottom, with some scuff marks due to age solid piece great for postmodern , Memphis mid century home decor.
Bronze
Pr. Postmodern Silverplate Candlesticks by Richard Meier for Swid Powell, 1980's
By Swid Powell, Richard Meier
Located in New York, NY
Incredible pair of post modern silver plate candlesticks, by Richard Meier for Swid Powell. Very hard to find, especially in pairs, this impre...
Silver Plate
Robert Venturi Post Modern Silver Candleholders for Swid Powell
By Robert Venturi, Swid Powell
Located in Chicago, IL
Robert Venturi Post Modern Silver Candleholders for Swid Powell, Both stamped RVenturi MADE IN ITALY SILVER PLATED with copyright mark.
Silver Plate
Richard Meier for Swid Powell Stainless Steel Bowl/Centerpiece
By Swid Powell, Richard Meier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful post modern design by the well known architect Richard Meier. Measure: 10 inches.
Stainless Steel
Pair of Ettore Sottsass Silver Candlesticks for Swid Powell and Reed and Barton
By Ettore Sottsass, Swid Powell, Reed & Barton
Located in Kansas City, MO
Striking pair of silver plated candlesticks designed by Ettore Sottsass and made by Swid Powell in collaboration with Reed and Barton, 1980s.
Silver
Ettore Sottsass Candelstick / Candle Holder, Silver Plate for Swid Powell
By Swid Powell, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is one icon of Post Modern design by the well known architect Ettore Sottsass.
Silver Plate
20th Century Italian Sterling Silver Picture Frame
By Arval Argenti Valenza
Located in VALENZA, IT
Sterling silver photo frame. The frame was made in Italy by the Argenteria Raddi of Florence. The design is typically Libeerty with the characteristic flowers, festoons and ribbons...
Sterling Silver
$194 / item
H 6.3 in Dm 3.15 in
Contemporary Modern, Kubbe Large Candleholder, Varnished Silver-Nickel Plated
By DAY Studio
Located in İstanbul, İstanbul
Kubbe collection was designed with inspiration from the domes of the courtyards, shops and workshops of the Grand Bazaar, which has been the center of silver-smiting in Istanbul for ...
Brass, Nickel
$557Sale Price|29% Off
H 2 in W 8.5 in D 5.5 in
1950s Danish Teak Freeform Carved Nut Bowl Table Centerpiece Vintage Modern
By Finn Juhl
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Obscure Danish Design Company, AL-BO. Highly finished, thin walled Teak wedge-shaped bowl.
Teak
$384
H 5.71 in Dm 9.85 in
Large Black and Green 'Krenit' Bowl by Herbert Krenchel for Torben Ørskov & Co
By Herbert Krenchel, Torben Orskov
Located in Steenwijk, NL
This 'Krenit' bowl was designed by mechanical engineer Herbert Krenchel and his good friend Torben Ørskov who put them in production in 1953. They had realised that Americans ate a l...
Metal, Enamel
$576
H 8.27 in Dm 8.27 in
Midcentury Rounded Picture Frame Made in Silver Plate and Teak, Italy, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
We are pleased to offer an elegant circular picture frame, almost certainly made in Italy between 1960 and 1970. This vintage round frame is crafted in silver plate with a mahogany-v...
Silver Plate
$595 / set
H 11.02 in W 3.94 in D 3.94 in
Pair of Italian Postmodern Metal Candlesticks, Memphis Style, 1980s
Located in Stockholm, SE
A pair of Italian postmodern candlesticks from the 1980s, executed in metal with a graphic, architectural composition characteristic of Memphis-inspired design. Each piece is constr...
Stone, Metal
Pair of 18th Century French Patinated Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Dallas, TX
Cast in France during the 1700s, this pair of bronze candlesticks has a lovely patination, giving them a glossy brown color. The highly contoured and curved bases are mirrored by the...
Metal, Bronze
Pair of Pair Pont Cut Glass and Silver Plate Tall Candlesticks
By Pairpoint Glassworks
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A pair of elegant tall candlesticks with a diamond cut bodies with silver-plate bases with acanthus leaf decoration, signed on the bottom Pairpoint. 16 inches tall.
Silver Plate
Waterford Center Bowl
By Waterford Crystal
Located in Hudson, NY
A finely cut and polished crystal regency style Waterford Louise Kennedy bowl . The Regency shape is a time-honored style for good English cut crystal a...
Crystal
$8,850Sale Price / set|70% Off
H 9.75 in Dm 5.5 in
Pair of Sterling Silver Cymric Candlesticks, Archibald Knox for Liberty and Co
By Archibald Knox
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
Exceedingly Rare and Important pair of Museum quality old English sterling silver Cymric candlesticks. Exceptional example of silver from the Art...
Sterling Silver
$223 / set
H 2.37 in Dm 2.76 in
Contemporary Modern, Kubbe Minimal Candleholders, Silver-Nickel Plated, Set of 2
By DAY Studio
Located in İstanbul, İstanbul
Kubbe collection was designed with inspiration from the domes of the courtyards, shops and workshops of the Grand Bazaar, which has been the center of silver-smiting in Istanbul for ...
Brass, Nickel
Pair of Candlesticks or Candleholders, Green Patinated Bronze
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of candlestick in patinated bronze. The square-shaped base or washer provides stability to the barrel, which has been shaped into a column with a smooth shaft with a notable wi...
Bronze
Pair of Richard Meier “King Richard” Silver-Plated Candlesticks for Swid Powell
By Swid Powell, Richard Meier
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of Richard Meier “King Richard” Silver-Plated Candlesticks for Swid Powell, 1983 Pair of vintage “King Richard” candlesticks designed by American architect Richard Meier for Sw...
Silver Plate
Architect Richard Meier Design Silverplate Rotating Cross Bowl for Swid Powell
By Richard Meier, Swid Powell
Located in Oakland, CA
Silverplate over brass bowl designed by architect Richard Meier for Swid Powell, referred to as the Cross Bowl, made by Plata Lappas, Buenos Aires for Swid Powell. Unlike the larger ...
Silver Plate
Swid Powell Candlesticks, Designed by Stern, Italian- Set of 2, c. 1980's
By Swid Powell, Robert A.M. Stern
Located in Ross, CA
Set of two stamped Swid Powell Candlesticks, made in Italy in the 1980's. Designed and stamped with architect Robert A.M. Stern's initials. The pattern is called "Century". Swid Pow...
Silver Plate
Richard Meier large bowl / centerpiece silver plate for Swid Powell .
By Swid Powell, Richard Meier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful centerpiece designed by the well known architect Richard Meier . This is a large almost 12 inches diameter .
Silver Plate
Sold
H 7.75 in W 8.75 in D 2 in
Swid Powell Italian Silver Plated Chrome Picture Frame by Richard Meier
By Swid Powell, Richard Meier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A stunning example of Richard Meiers work with Swid Powell. The sliver plated picture frame is a modern piece with a sphere and cylinder which house two pieces of glass floating. ...
Silver Plate, Chrome
Sold
H 4 in Dm 11.5 in
Charles Gwathmey, Robert Siegel, Vintage Swid Powell Silver Plate Courtney Bowl
By Gwathmey Siegel & Assoc, Swid Powell
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage hand hammered silver-plated brass bowl by the architectural team of Robert Siegel and Charles Gwathmey for Swid Powell is one of the most iconic designs made and also on...
Silver Plate
Postmodern Cross Bowl by Richard Meier for Swid Powell
By Swid Powell, Richard Meier
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sometimes referred to as the Cross Bowl and other times as the X-Base Bowl, this postmodern silver-plated bowl is one of Richard Meier’s simplest and most iconic designs for Swid Pow...
Silver Plate
"Metropolitan" Candlestick by Robert A. M. Stern for Swid Powell
By Swid Powell, Cleto Munari, Robert A.M. Stern
Located in Skokie, IL
"Metropolitan" Candlestick by Robert A. M. Stern for Swid Powell A single iconic "Metropolitan" silver-plated candlestick designed by Robert A. M. Stern for Swid Powell. Stern, b. 1...
Silver Plate, Brass
"Silvershade" Candlestick by Ettore Sottsass for Swid Powell
By Swid Powell, Cleto Munari, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Skokie, IL
"Silvershade" Candlestick by Ettore Sottsass for Swid Powell A single "Silvershade" silver-plated candlestick designed by Ettore Sottsass for Swid Powell. Sottsass, 1917-2007, was a...
Silver Plate, Brass
"Moonlight" Candlestick by Ettore Sottsass for Swid Powell
By Swid Powell, Ettore Sottsass, Cleto Munari
Located in Skokie, IL
"Moonlight" Candlestick by Ettore Sottsass for Swid Powell A single "Moonlight" silver -plated and brass candlestick designed by Ettore Sottsass for Swid Powell. Sottsass, 1917-2007...
Silver Plate, Brass
"Starlight" Candlestick by Ettore Sottsass for Swid Powell
By Ettore Sottsass, Cleto Munari, Swid Powell
Located in Skokie, IL
A single "Starlight" silver-plated and brass candlestick designed by Ettore Sottsass for Swid Powell. Sottsass, 1917-2007, was a noted 20th century Italian architect and the founder ...
Silver Plate, Brass
"King Richard" Candlestick by Richard Meier for Swid Powell
By Cleto Munari, Richard Meier, Swid Powell
Located in Skokie, IL
"King Richard" Candlestick by Richard Meier for Swid Powell A single "King Richard" silver-plated candlestick designed by Richard Meier for Swid Powell. Meier, b. 1934, is a noted 2...
Silver Plate, Brass