Designer: Richard Meier (born 1934)

Item: Money Clip

Manufactured by: Cleto Munari for Swid Powell

Country of origin: Italy

Year made: Ca. 1986

Materials: Silverplate and brass

Dimensions: ¼” x 2 ½” x ¾”

Condition: Excellent

References: Swid Powell 1988 catalog inventory insert.

Description: Here is another Meier design flowing from his interest in the work of Austrian architect Josef Hoffmann; this one fashioned into a money clip or cash clip. This money clip appears to have been designed in concert with Meier’s desk collection that included a letter opener, envelope holder, pen and pencils holder, magnifying glass and two hinged lidded boxes. This is photographed in the Swid Powell catalog inventory insert from 1988 grouped together with the letter opener, magnifying glass, key ring and book mark. Unlike the letter opener which we come across with some frequency, the money clip is very hard to find and we have only seen a few others, suggesting it was a short-lived production. Meier’s designs for Swid Powell are in many major museum collections.