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Zaha Hadid and George Sowden, creating products that incorporated the bright, saturated colors and popular and historical references, like Classical columns, that animated postmodern design in the 1980s.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.
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 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
$875
H 16.25 in W 5 in D 5 in
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
$3,000
H 12 in W 4 in D 4 in
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
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
$795
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
$4,500 / set
H 12.75 in W 3.75 in D 3.5 in
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
$8,790 / item
H 6.7 in Dm 11.42 in
Aldebaran Glass Fruit Bowl, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano, Memphis Group
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
$699
H 9 in W 3.75 in D 0.5 in
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
Teak Salad Bowl by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Vintage staved teak large salad bowl design by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. Stamped "Dansk International Design LTD Thailand JHQ". Designer: Jens ...
Teak
Pair of Silver Plated Bowls by Walker & Hall, Sheffield, England
By Walker & Hall
Located in Balen, BE
A pair of early 20th Century silver plated bowls by Walker & Hall from Sheffield, England. They show traces of wear in accordance with the age of the pieces, truly wonderful patina.
Silver Plate
Lathe Turned Teak Bowl by Shigemichi Aomine for National Crafts Council
By Aomine Shigemichi 1
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A thin walled lathe turned active grained wood bowl having flaring conical form.
Teak
$3,440Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 8.5 in Dm 6.5 in
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
La Bocca Bowl by Marcela Cure
Located in Geneve, CH
La Bocca bowl by Marcela Cure. Dimensions: W 32 x D 22 x H 26 cm. Materials: resin and stone composite. Our La Bocca bowl is inspired by the fascinating and provocative figure o...
Stone
Swid Powell Silver Plate Bowl or Candy Dish by Richard Meier
By Richard Meier, Swid Powell
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
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
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 4 in Dm 11.5 in
Charles Gwathmey, Robert Siegel, Vintage Swid Powell Silver Plate Courtney Bowl
By Swid Powell, Gwathmey Siegel & Assoc
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 Richard Meier, Swid Powell
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
Courtney Centerpiece Bowl by Gwathmey & Siegel for Swid Powell
By Swid Powell, Gwathmey Siegel & Assoc, Robert Gwathmey
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A rare and beautiful silver plate "Courtney" centerpiece bowl designed by Charles Gwathmey and Robert Siegel for Swid Powell in 1989. Swid Powell commissioned celebrated architects and designers to create tableware in the 1980s and 1990s and the Gwathmey & Siegel's "Courtney" designs are much less commonly seen than the Richard Meier or Michael Graves designs...
Silver Plate
Swid Powell Postmodern Skyscraper Bowl Silver-Plate, 1990s
By Richard Meier, Swid Powell
Located in New York, NY
A designer Postmodern period sterling silver-plate bowl by American artist and architect Richard Meier for Swid Powell Co., made in Italy, 1992. Piece is formally known as the "Skyscraper" bowl. Marked "Swid Powell", "RM", "Made in Italy", "Silver Pate", on bottom as shown in images #12 and 13 (hard to read.) Great as a standalone piece or as a vide-poche catchall for a table, desk, vanity, etc. Dimensions: 2.13" H x 5.94" Diameter. About Swid Powell: Well known for its promotion of fashionable ceramics, silverware, and glass by leading international, generally Postmodernist, architect-designers the New York-based Swid Powell company was founded by Nan Swid...
Silver Plate
Richard Meier Large Stainless Steel Bowl for Swid Powell
By Richard Meier, Swid Powell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very nice and simple and elegant Postmodern lines, by the well known architect Richard Meier. Marked RM on bottom.
Stainless Steel
Postmodern Silver Bowl by Richard Meier for Swid Powell
By Richard Meier, Swid Powell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A small silver plate bowl designed by architect Richard Meier as part of a suite of postmodern tablewares for 1980s female-led collaboration Swid Powell. The brainchild of Nancy Swid...
Silver Plate
Richard Meier for Swid Powell Skyscraper Silver- Plate Bowl
By Richard Meier, Swid Powell
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely architectural silver plate bowl designed by Richard Meier for Swid Powell is called the Skyscraper. It is modernist and timeless. Made in Italy and from the 80's. It is a...
Silver Plate
Richard Meier "Skyscraper" Silver Plated Bowl
By Richard Meier, Swid Powell
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed by Richard Meier for Swid Powell. Large silver plated. Made in Italy.
Silver Plate
Richard Meier for Swid Powell "Skyscraper" Bowl
By Richard Meier, Swid Powell
Located in North Miami, FL
This simple architectural silver plated bowl designed by the renowned, respected and accomplished architect Richard Meier is iconic because this was part of the architectural series ...
Silver Plate