Art Deco industrial designer Walter von Nessen is best known for his glamorous Machine Age lighting designs and for his invention of the swing-arm lamp. Von Nessen was born in Germany, where he studied under Bruno Paul at Berlin’s Kunstgewerbeschule. After World War I, he worked for the architect Peter Behrens, in Berlin. He left in 1919 for Stockholm, where he designed furniture until emigrating with his wife, Margaretta, to the United States in 1923. In 1927, the couple opened Nessen Studios in Manhattan, designing and selling sleek, modern architectural lighting.
Art Deco was both novel and exciting in the late 1920s — as, indeed, was electricity itself — and Nessen Studios was at the forefront of the movement. Electric lighting designers at the time had no direct models to follow. The shapes and silhouettes of gas lamps, lanterns and chandeliers had been influenced by those of the kerosene-, oil- and candle-lit fixtures that preceded them, which in turn were informed by the fuels they used. Electric lighting required designs that accommodated essentials of the new technology, like cords and sockets. Von Nessen and his contemporaries thus had to create fixtures that addressed these challenges and looked modern without appearing overly mechanical.
Along with industrial-design visionaries of the period like Raymond Loewy, Gilbert Rohde and Donald Deskey, von Nessen crafted a style that was emblematic of the Machine Age. He produced lamps and home accessories from spun aluminum, with smooth surfaces that evoked the polished gleam of streamlined automobiles and airplanes. And he experimented with other popular materials of the era, such as Bakelite, chrome and fiberglass. His ingenious design for the now-ubiquitous swing-arm lamp earned him a reputation as an innovator.
Von Nessen’s work is represented in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian National Design Museum, among other institutions. Designed to complement the luxurious interiors of the 1920s and ‘30s, still look fresh nearly a century later.
Chase Three Piece Comet Tea Service Set with Bakelite Accents
By Chase Brass and Copper Company, Walter Von Nessen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Three-piece spherical tea set by Walter von Nessen for Chase, USA, c.1940s. The set includes an electric tea pot, creamer and sugar bowl with bone colored Bakelite handles. The chrom...
Stainless Steel, Chrome
Three-Piece Tea Set with Tray by Walter Von Nessen for Chase
By Chase Brass and Copper Company, Walter Von Nessen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Three piece tea set with round tray by Walter von Nessen for Chase, USA, c.1930s. The set includes a tea pot, creamer and sugar bowl with Bakelite handles. The round tray showcases a...
Copper
5-Piece French Art Deco Silver Plate Tea Set
Located in Queens, NY
5 piece French Art Deco silver plated tea set with fluted design and rosewood handles. (tray, sugar, creamer, 2 tea/coffee pots) (PRICED AS SET)
Silver Plate
$5,850 / set
H 5 in W 7.3 in D 6.5 in
Japanese Three-Piece Porcelain Tea Service Set Contemporary Gold Red Kutani
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary museum-quality Kutani three-piece tea service set, generously gilded with high purity gold and extremely intricately hand-painted in red and green...
Gold
Edwardian Sterling Silver Three-Piece Tea Service
By Williams Ltd
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive antique Edwardian English sterling silver three piece tea service / set; an addition to our silver teaware collection. This fine antique Edwardian sterling silver tea service consists of a teapot, sugar bowl and cream jug Each component has an oval rounded form to a plain oval collet foot. The lower portions of the teapot, cream jug and sugar bowl are embellished with embossed fluted ornamentation. The flared upper rim of the cream jug and sugar bowl, and shoulders of the teapot are ornamented with an impressive applied gadroon decorated border. The large teapot is fitted with a domed hinged hallmarked cover, which features further embossed convex fluted decoration. The cover is surmounted by the original carved oval fluted painted wood and sterling silver finial. The teapot retains the original plain angular carved painted wood handle with a carved scroll style thumbpiece. The cream jug and sugar bowl have plain angular sterling silver handles ornamented with subtle applied decoration. Condition This antique sterling silver tea service...
Sterling Silver
$1,950
H 9.5 in W 4 in D 8 in
A Mid-Century 5-Piece Christofle Electroplated Silver Tea and Coffee Service Set
By Christofle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Charming Mid-Century Five-Piece Christofle Electroplated Silver Tea and Coffee Set. The elegant set comprising of a coffee pot, a hot water pot, a sugar-bowl and a milk jug. Stampe...
Silver Plate
$2,942 / set
H 7.49 in W 8.86 in D 5.12 in
5-Piece Tea and Coffee Set by M. Dufrene for Christofle (Gallia)
By Gallia
Located in NANTES, FR
Tea and coffee set designed by Maurice Dufrene for Galia/Christople Set consisting of a tray, a coffee pot, a teapot, a milk jug, and a sugar bowl. Black wooden handles. Gallia hall...
Silver Plate
Ebony 5-Piece Complete Tea + Coffee Set by Zanetto
By Zanetto
Located in Milan, IT
Gorgeous breakfast set complete with milk vessel, coffee pot, sugar bowl, tea pot and tray all exquisitely crafted in a silver plated alloy.
Silver Plate
13-Piece Vintage Japanese Tea Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage sumatsu serving set hand painted with maple leaves and birds / Made in Japan circa 1960s 1 tea pot, width 7 inches, height 4 inches, depth 6 inches 4 plates, diameter 6.75 in...
Porcelain
Victorian Sterling Silver Three-Piece Bachelor Tea Service
By George Richards Elkington
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver three-piece bachelor tea set or service, boxed, an addition to our diver...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Victorian Sterling Silver Three Piece Tea Service
By Fenton Brothers
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver three piece tea service, with Zodiac influence; part of our silver teaware collection This exceptional antique Victorian silver tea set...
Sterling Silver, Silver
$816 / set
H 5 in W 5.5 in D 5.5 in
Christopher Dresser Attr Three-Piece Tea Set Made by Coalport for Hukin & Heath
By Coalport Porcelain, Christopher Dresser
Located in London, GB
Christopher dresser attr A three-piece tea set made by Coalport for Hukin and Heath, with gilt handles and gilt silver mounts. Birmingham date code for 1893. Silver stamped JTH and JHM for John Thomas Heath and John Hartshorne Middleton of Heath and Middleton.
Porcelain
Brass and Copper Three-Piece Tea Set from the 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
Copper or brass set of a tea pot, milk creamer and a sugar bowl made by Erich Kolbenheyer for EKW Austria in the 1950s. Dimensions: Pot: W 37cm (14...
Brass, Copper
Silver Plate Five Piece Tea / Coffee Service
By Reed & Barton
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Silver plated five pieces tea and coffee service with exterior floral design details. Each piece is in great condition. Minor wear consistent with age / use. Maker's mark undersigned Reed & Barton "King Francis model number 1650-1654”. Set include Coffee pot 11-3/4 inches. Tea pot 10 inches. Covered sugar pot 7 inches. Creamer 6 inches & tea bag...
Silver Plate