Designer: George J. Sowden (born 1942)

Item: Candlesticks

Manufactured by: Cleto Munari for Swid Powell

Country of origin: Italy

Year made: 1988

Materials: Silverplate over brass

Dimensions: 2” x 5”

Condition: Very good. Some minor dings to one corner of each base that are not noticeable. Some minor tarnishing, polishing marks and light scratching. One was never used and the other has seen use, which is why the interior of one is dark and the other is not.

References: Tapert, Annette. SWID POWELL: Objects by Architects, Rizzoli, 1990.

Description: These rarely found candlesticks for Swid Powell were designed by George Sowden during the time he was an original and participating member of the Memphis Design Group in Italy founded by Ettore Sottsass. This set retains the “Swid Powell”, “Made in Italy” marks and Sowden’s signature on the underside of one. The other appears to have been a prototype and only carries the very early Swid Powell mark and Made in Italy mark. The Yale University Art Gallery also has the original design drawing for this candlestick in its collection.