Designer: Calvin Tsao (b. 1952) & Zack McKown (b. 1952)

Item: Hurricane Candlesticks

Manufactured by: Cleto Munari for Swid Powell

Country of origin: Italy

Year made: 1993

Materials: Silverplate over brass

Dimensions: 12 ½” x 4 ¾”

Condition: Excellent to near mint.

References: Yale University Art Gallery Website

Description: The architecture firm and team of Tsao & McKown was established in 1985 and commissioned by Swid Powell in 1992 to design table top objects such as china, frames and candlesticks. An example of this candlestick can be found in the permanent collection of Yale University Art Gallery, which also retains many of the original design drawings for their works. This model is rarely found and is marked Swid Powell and Made in Italy without their names. We have seen this type of marking on other silver Swid Powell objects produced by Cleto Munari, usually on examples that were either prototypes or from the initial productions prior to going into full retail manufacturing. Shortly after the initial production of this particular model, the manufacturing of Swid Powell’s silver objects were moved to the firm Plata Lappas, located in Buenos Aires, Argentina where the bulk of Tsao and McKown silver designs were done. We confirmed directly with Tsao and McKown that this is their design, and it is also documented on the Yale University collection website. These candlesticks are very heavy weighing in at about 4 pounds each.

Calvin Tsao is a recognized and leading voice in contemporary architecture whose work draws from a lively engagement with a variety of art forms. He serves on the Board of The American Academy in Rome, and is an active board member and President Emeritus of The Architectural League of New York. He is also former Vice President for Design Excellence of the AIA New York chapter, and served several years as member of the Visiting Committee to Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. In 2012 Tsao received a Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Legacy Award and in 2009 the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian National Design Award for Interior Design, along with his partner Zach McKown. A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, he has taught at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, the Cooper Union, Syracuse University, and at Parsons The New School for Design, and has also served as guest critic and lectured at universities internationally