A complete and desirable set of ten porcelain rim soup bowls in the "Tuxedo" pattern by Swid Powell, designed by the celebrated architectural firm Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman. Produced 1994–1998. Glazed finish. Each stamped on the underside: Swid Powell / Gwathmey Siegel / "Tuxedo". Each 1.25" H × 8.25" diameter. Good overall condition. Estate fresh to market.

Swid Powell was one of the most significant and culturally influential tableware companies in American design history. Founded in 1982 in New York by Nan Swid and Addie Powell, the company commissioned original tableware designs from the leading architects and designers of the postmodern era — including Robert Venturi, Michael Graves, Richard Meier, Arata Isozaki, Stanley Tigerman, Laurinda Spear, and here, Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman. Each design was a miniature manifesto of its architect's visual language translated into functional porcelain — making Swid Powell pieces simultaneously collectible design objects and documents of the postmodern movement.

The "Tuxedo" pattern by Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman — the firm of Charles Gwathmey and Robert Siegel, whose work included the Guggenheim Museum addition and numerous landmark private residences — is characterized by bold geometric elements against a crisp white ground, perfectly expressing the firm's architectural vocabulary of refined geometric abstraction.

Swid Powell ceased production in the late 1990s, making complete sets increasingly scarce. Their pieces appear on 1stDibs, at design auction houses, and are collected by architects, postmodern design enthusiasts, and tableware specialists worldwide.

Details:

• Maker: Swid Powell, New York (founded 1982)
• Pattern: Tuxedo Black
• Designer: Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman (Charles Gwathmey & Robert Siegel)
• Production Years: 1994–1998
• Quantity: Set of 10 rim soup bowls
• Dimensions: 1.25" H × 8.25" diameter each
• Finish: Glazed porcelain
• Markings: Swid Powell / Gwathmey Siegel / Tuxedo (stamped underside)
• Style: Postmodern / Architectural Design

Condition:

Good overall condition with normal surface wear. Estate fresh to market.

• Source: MiddleMan Brokers, Sunrise, FL
• Auction Date: January 17, 2024
• Lot Number: 360

A rare complete set of ten from one of the most celebrated collaborations between American architecture and tableware design. An exceptional acquisition for collectors of postmodern design, Swid Powell, or Gwathmey Siegel.