Designer: Robert A. M. Stern (born 1939)

Item: Metropolitan candlesticks

Manufactured by: Cleto Munari for Swid Powell

Country of origin: Italy

Year made: 1984

Materials: Silverplate over brass

Dimensions: 12” x 2” x 2”

Condition: Excellent. No dents or dings or loss of silver-plate that show the base metal. Some light polishing marks as should be expected.

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

Description: This is the second pair of Metropolitan candlesticks by Stern we have been able to offer for sale. This is another one of the iconic and early designs for Swid Powell. These are very heavy weighing in at almost 4 pounds each. They are extremely well made and were manufactured by the famed Cleto Munari Company in Italy. The tops unscrew from the stem and the stem is screwed into the base so they can be disassembled for easier care. These were very expensive items when they were originally retailed. This set retains the “Swid Powell”, “Made in Italy” marks and Stern’s signature on the underside of each. Examples can be found in the collections of the Dallas Art Museum, Yale University Art Gallery, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Yale University Art Gallery also has the original design drawing for this candlestick in its collection. This pair came from the collection of another well known Philadelphia architect and designer. These are getting harder to find.