Walter Von Nessen Cat Bookends Chase Brass Bronze Signed USA 1930s Art Deco
View Similar Items
Walter Von Nessen Cat Bookends Chase Brass Bronze Signed USA 1930s Art Deco
About the Item
- Creator:Walter Von Nessen (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 7.5 in (19.05 cm)Width: 4 in (10.16 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Art Deco (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Brass,Cast
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1932
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU95695885153
Walter Von Nessen
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.
- Ben Seibel Orb Bookends, Brass, Jenfred-WareBy Jenfred Ware, Ben SeibelLocated in New York, NYBen Seibel Orb bookends, brass. Pair of rounded sculptural brass over white metal bookends with cutout handles - the form resembling Turkish kettlebells. The warm patina to the brass...Category
Vintage 1950s North American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Silas Seandel Cube Side Table, Welded Bronze, Brass, Copper, SignedBy Silas SeandelLocated in New York, NYSilas Seandel side table, bronze, brass, and copper, signed. Chunky welded cube form side table with bright patina and rugged surface. Signed: "Silas Seandel 72". Seandel, a trained...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsBrass, Bronze, Copper
- Westwood Lamps, Bronze, SignedBy Westwood IndustriesLocated in New York, NYWestwood Lamps, Bronze, Signed. Small scale chunky lamps in cast bronze by Westwood Industries. Rewired with quality single sockets by our expert lamp restorer. The cords have on/off...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBronze
- C. Jere Brass Cloud Sconces, SignedBy C. Jeré Artisan House, Curtis JeréLocated in New York, NYC. Jere sconces, brass clouds, signed. Pair of medium scale cloud form sconces in polished and lacquered brass with rectangular wall mounts. One of the sco...Category
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
$9,500 / set - C. Jere Mirror, Bronze, Copper, Sunburst, SignedBy Curtis JeréLocated in New York, NYC. Jere mirror, bronze, copper, sunburst, signed. Small scale handcrafted bronze over copper sunburst mirror with twisted rebar arms. Retains its original felt backing on verso and h...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBronze
- Carl Auböck Pipe Paperweight, Brass, SignedBy Werkstätte Carl AuböckLocated in New York, NYCarl Auböck Pipe Paperweight, Brass, Signed. Small scale meticulously detailed brass pipe paperweight by Viennese designer Carl Auböck.Category
Vintage 1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights
MaterialsBrass
- Walter von Nessen Art Deco BookendsBy Walter Von NessenLocated in Atlanta, GAPair of sculptural Art Deco bookends, designed by Walter Von Nessen for Chase, unsigned, American, circa 1930s. They are believed to be constructed of brass, but have taken on a warm...Category
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Bookends
MaterialsMetal, Brass
$1,200 / set - Chase Walter Von Nessen Horse Bookends StatueBy Walter Von Nessen, Chase Brass and Copper CompanyLocated in Oakland, CAExtremely rare set of chase Equestrian bookends sculpture designed by Walter Von Nessen in 1932. Industrial Design incorporated with the latest mat...Category
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBrass
$2,400 / set - Crescent Moon & Brass Art Deco Bookends by Walter Von Nessen for Chase & Co.By Walter Von Nessen, Chase and Co.Located in San Diego, CAGorgeous pair of bakelite crescent moon and brass Art Deco bookends by Walter Von Nessen for Chase & Co., circa 1930s. The bookends have a black bakelite crescent moon siitting on a ...Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Bookends
MaterialsBrass
- Art Deco Walter Von Nessen Bookends for Chase, Toy Soldiers in Brass & BakeliteBy Walter Von NessenLocated in Bedford Hills, NYVery rare pair of Walter Von Nessen toy soldier bookends in brass and bakelite. All original with beautiful patina and age. Hallmarked. Very slight separation at one corner, see photo.Category
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Bookends
MaterialsBrass
- Pair of Ring Bookends by Walter von Nessen for Chase USABy Walter Von Nessen, Chase Brass and Copper CompanyLocated in Los Angeles, CAPair of nickel and copper art deco machine age bookends by Walter von Nessen for Chase, c.1930s, USA. The pair of bookends feature two circles, one larger in a black satin enameled c...Category
Vintage 1930s American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsNickel, Enamel, Copper
- Pair of Art Deco Ship's Wheel Bookends by Walter Von Nessen for Chase & Co.By Walter Von Nessen, Chase and Co.Located in San Diego, CAA very nice pair of Art Deco ship's wheel bookends by Walter Von Nessen for Chase & Co., circa 1930s. The bookends are made of walnut, brass and bakelite...Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Bookends
MaterialsBrass