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Zaha Hadid and George Sowden, creating products that incorporated the bright, saturated colors and popular and historical references, like Classical columns, that animated postmodern design in the 1980s.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.
$6,600 / set
Swid Powell Dinner Set "Chicago Blues" Custom
By Swid Powell, Gwathmey Siegel & Assoc
Located in Chicago, IL
Gwathmey & Siegel inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright designed this pattern. Custom blue five-piece dinner set in original boxes. Dinner plate, soup bowl, salad plate, cup and saucer. 6 s...
Ceramic
Swid Powell Toscana Tableware Designed by Steven Harris & Lucien Ress-Roberts
By Swid Powell
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Great set of post modern colorful tableware: Designer: Steven Harris, American, born 1950 Designer: Lucien Rees Roberts, English, born 1952 Retaile...
Porcelain
Two "Signature Black" Dinner Plates Designed By Richard Meier For Swid Powell
By Richard Meier, Swid Powell
Located in Doraville, GA
Two Signature Black buffet plates designed by Richard Meier for Swid Powell in the 1980’s. Meier was at the peak of his career during this time, having designed the much lauded High ...
Porcelain
$1,800 / set
H 0.5 in Dm 7.75 in
Set of 21 Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman's 'Tuxedo' for Swid Powell Various Porcelain
By Gwathmey Siegel & Assoc, Swid Powell
Located in Southampton, NY
Set of 21 Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman's design 'Tuxedo' for Swid Powell - Various Porcelain pieces 3 Salad plates 7.75" diameter 3 Dinn...
Porcelain
$3,542 / set
H 2.37 in Dm 9.85 in
Dinner set for 6 (12 pieces) by Bottega Vignoli Hand Painted Italian Majolica
By Bottega Vignoli
Located in London, GB
Hand painted dinner ware set (6 covers - 12 pieces: 6 soup bowls and 6 plates) full-fire reduction faience earthenware (majolica) , all hand-p...
Ceramic, Majolica, Faience
Ceramic Julia Dinner Plate by Fornasetti for Rosenthal
By Fornasetti, Rosenthal
Located in Atlanta, GA
A "Julia" porcelain plate with surrealism designs by Piero Fornasetti for Rosenthal, an iconic series from 'Temi e variazioni' (“Themes and Va...
Ceramic
Zodiaco Dinner Plate
By Laboratorio Paravicini
Located in Milan, IT
This superb ceramic plate is part of the Zodiaco collection introduced at the Milan Furniture Fair 2017. The center of this dish is adorned with a blue circle enclosing the earth and...
Ceramic
Wedgwood Porcelain Tableware Dinner Service For 12 People
By Wedgwood
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful Wedgwood porcelain tableware dinner service for twelve people with coffee serving set with hand painted design details. The service is in great condition. Maker's mark undersigned. Include 87 pieces all-together. 12 dinner plate 10 3/4" D. 12 Salad plate...
Gold
Ikat Ceramic Dinner Plates - Set of 6
By Bertrando Di Renzo
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Ikat patterns are an integral part of our colorful world, celebrating the beauty of this timeless textile technique. Inspired by its rich heritage, we’ve transformed some of our most...
Ceramic
Large Salad Serving Bowl Replacement Kingswood by Royal Doulton
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
10" Large salad serving bowl replacement flatware & dinnerware Kingswood by Royal Doulton. Set composed of : 2 large rim soup bowls 9 1/8 in 20€ each 2 salad plates 8 in- 20€ eac...
Ceramic
$436Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 0.4 in Dm 11.03 in
Amami, Six Contemporary Porcelain Dinner Plates with Decorative Design
By Vito Nesta
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Inspired by the coral reef of the Amami Islands in Japan, the Amami collection features tropical fishes and beautiful seaweed. A perfect choice for every spot near the seaside.
Porcelain
$436Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 0.4 in Dm 11.03 in
Black Dragon, Six Contemporary Porcelain Dinner Plates with Decorative Design
By Vito Nesta
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Black dragon POOL is a collection of plates and vases inspired by the famous Chinese pond of the same name, located in the scenic Jade Spring Park. The de...
Porcelain
$436Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 0.4 in Dm 11.03 in
Roma, Six Contemporary Porcelain Dinner Plates with Decorative Design
By Vito Nesta
Located in Milano, Lombardia
La collezione Roma è un'ode alla magnificenza della città eterna. Sullo sfondo dei piatti che raffigurano serigrafie di alcuni dei luoghi più iconici della città - come il Pantheon e...
Porcelain
$2,046 / set
H 23.63 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Limoges 34 Pieces Tableware in Very Fine Porcelain by GOA
Located in Paris, FR
Limoges porcelain tableware by GOA. Very white fine porcelain decorated with small roses and basket weave motif with a gold rim. Dinner plates (25 cm) - 12x Soup plates (25 cm) - 9x...
Porcelain
$141Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 0.79 in Dm 6.7 in
Contemporary Set of 2 Bread Rim Plates Gold Hand Painted Porcelain Tableware
By Coralla Maiuri
Located in Roma, RM
The Dafne collection is named after a hall of the Borghese Gallery in Rome and evokes Renaissance and Baroque art eternal beauty underlined by the gold finishes. Hand crafted in Ital...
Gold
$5,500 / set
H 2 in W 7.25 in D 10 in
English Minton Porcelain Tableware Dinner Service / Twelve People
By Minton
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Minton hand painted and decorated porcelain dinner service for twelve people. Made in England between 1948 -1970 "with impressed marks "Minton / china / 2-65" and pattern numbers in gold. Discontinued pattern. Green rim with hand painted floral interior setting in a white background with hand painted gilt gold design. Each piece is in excellent condition. The set include 12 dinner plates 12 bread and butter plates 12 compote dishes 12 coffee cups 12 coffee saucers...
Gold
Italian Mid-Century Restaurant Ceramic Dinner Plates, Set of 8
By Solimene, C.A.S. Vietri
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Italian mid-century Restaurant Ceramic Dinner Plates, Set of 8 A set of 8 different restaurant collectible plates made of hand-painted ceramic. Made in Italy in the 70s - 2000s. Th...
Ceramic
Special selection pieces for Replacement Kingswood by Royal Doulton
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
2x teacup and 2 saucer (6”) no soup bowls 4x dinner plate (10 5/8”) 2x breakfast / lunch plate (9 1/4”) 2x salad / dessert plate (8”) 2x tea / side plate (6 1/2”) 2x espresso cup (...
Ceramic
"Meier White" Chop Plates by Richard Meier for Swid Powell
By Richard Meier, Swid Powell
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A clean, contemporary china design, this group of five plates in the "Meier White" pattern by Richard Meier feature his signature design for Swid Powell.