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Zaha Hadid and George Sowden, creating products that incorporated the bright, saturated colors and popular and historical references, like Classical columns, that animated postmodern design in the 1980s.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
Richard Meier for Swid Powell Stainless Steel Bowl/Centerpiece
By Richard Meier, Swid Powell
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 Reed & Barton, Swid Powell, Ettore Sottsass
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
Pr. Postmodern Silverplate Candlesticks by Richard Meier for Swid Powell, 1980's
By Richard Meier, Swid Powell
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
Steven Holl Patinated Bronze Candlestick for Swid Powell rare Postmodern Memphis
By Steven Holl, Swid Powell
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
Richard Meier Swid Powell Magnifying Glass Mid Century Modern Architect Design
By Swid Powell, Richard Meier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Modernist Silverplate Magnifying Glass Designed by Richard Meier for Swid Powell, Italy, circa 1980s. Makes the perfect gift for the favorite design lover in your life (even if it's ...
Metal, Silver Plate
Robert Venturi Post Modern Silver Candleholders for Swid Powell
By Swid Powell, Robert Venturi
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
Pair of Swid Powell Silver Plate Postmodern Candlesticks
By Swid Powell
Located in Dallas, TX
Elegant pair of postmodern silver-plated candlesticks by Swid Powell, circa 1980s. Featuring a refined architectural form with cylindrical stems, wide drip pans, and weighted circula...
Silver Plate
Pair of Richard Meier for Swid Powell Silver Plate Post-Modern Bowls
By Swid Powell, Richard Meier
Located in Dallas, TX
A refined matched pair of silver-plated postmodern bowls designed by celebrated architect Richard Meier for Swid Powell, New York, circa 1980s. Executed with Meier’s signature archit...
Silver Plate
Richard Meier Postmodern Silverplate Candlestick for Italian Swid Powell, 1980's
By Swid Powell, Richard Meier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Silver-plated candlestick designed by Richard Meier for Swid Powell, Italy. This striking postmodern design exemplifies Meier’s sculptural, architectural approach, bringing bold pres...
Silver Plate
Richard Meier Swid Powell Magnifying Glass in Box Mid Century Modern Architect
By Richard Meier, Swid Powell
Located in Atlanta, GA
Modernist Silverplate Magnifying Glass, designed by Richard Meier for Swid Powell, Italy, circa 1980s. Includes original box and cloth bag. It is the perfect gift for the favorite de...
Metal, Silver Plate
Ettore Sottsass Candelstick / Candle Holder, Silver Plate for Swid Powell
By Ettore Sottsass, Swid Powell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is one icon of Post Modern design by the well known architect Ettore Sottsass.
Silver Plate
$559
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
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
$8,790 / item
H 6.7 in Dm 11.42 in
Aldebaran Glass Fruit Bowl, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
By Memphis Group, Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Aldebaran Glass Fruit Bowl was designed for Memphis in 1983 by Ettore Sottsass. This bowl features a tapering cylindrical shape with three green handles, with the side decorated ...
Glass
Mid century modern Murano glass paperweight, 1960
Located in Palermo, PA
This elegant Murano glass paperweight features a clear, transparent design with a delicate light blue flower inside. Small, subtle air bubbles are suspended within the glass, adding ...
Murano Glass
Magnifying Glass Seashell Handle Victorian
Located in New York, NY
A metal magnifying glass with seashell handle, circa early to mid-20th century. Piece has a metal frame with what appears to be a 'Richer's amalda' seashell, a rare deepwater species...
Metal
$233
H 1.78 in W 4.93 in D 1.19 in
Mid-Century Italian Tennis Racket Picture Frame in Silver-Plated Pewter, 70s
Located in Roma, IT
We are pleased to offer for sale a refined mid-20th century tabletop frame, an object that combines modern taste with a charming retro appeal. It makes a perfect gift for tennis enth...
Silver Plate, Pewter
Magnifying Glass
Located in New York, NY
A magnifying glass in brass with a turned rich wood handle, circa late-20th century. A great piece for a desk, office, library, etc. Very good condition ...
Brass
Mid century modern Murano glass paperweight, 1960
Located in Palermo, PA
This beautiful Murano glass paperweight features a unique design with small air bubbles at the bottom and surrounding the delicate blue flower inside. The bottom is made of rich blue...
Murano Glass
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 Candlesticks or Candleholders, Patinated Bronze
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of candlestick in patinated bronze. The base washer shows a decoration based on moldings, while the barrel rises from a pedestal topped by a large pearl and is shaped like a va...
Bronze
Pair of Candlesticks or Candleholders, Patinated Bronze
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of candlestick in patinated bronze. It has a square base with flattened corners and decorated with moldings that create a staggering until almost reaching the barrel, worked as...
Bronze
1980s Vintage Memphis Style Blue Postmodern Metal Candleholder
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Metal Candleholder, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Metal Style: Memphis, Postmodern Period: 1980s Color: Blue Item Typ...
Metal
Swid Powell Silver Plate Bowl or Candy Dish by Richard Meier
By Swid Powell, Richard Meier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautifully restrained silver-plate bowl designed by Richard Meier for Swid Powell. Sculptural yet understated, the piece stands confidently on its own while remaining perfectly su...
Silver Plate
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 Swid Powell, Richard Meier
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 Robert A.M. Stern, Swid Powell
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 Richard Meier, Swid Powell
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 Cleto Munari, Robert A.M. Stern, Swid Powell
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 Cleto Munari, Ettore Sottsass, Swid Powell
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 Swid Powell, Ettore Sottsass, Cleto Munari
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