This exhibition features metalwork pieces designed by prominent architects from the 19th to the 21st century. The involvement of architects in decorative arts has its roots in the concept of the Gesamtkunstwerk, a term generally attributed to Richard Wagner, who saw his operas as an integral artwork of music, theatre and visual art.
The Vienna Secessionists applied this term to architecture to express a synthesis of multiple art forms, or more simply, to describe a building where every part is designed to be part of a whole. Margo Grant Walsh’s collection includes examples of Wiener Werkstätte production - a beautiful tulip-shaped centerpiece and a pitcher by Josef Hoffmann, the Darmstadt Colony is represented by a Peter Behrens spoon and fork set, Model No. 4800, manufactured by M. J. Rückert and a patinated copper and brass tea machine designed by Albin Müller.

tulip-shaped centerpiece by Josef Hoffmann	pitcher by Josef Hoffmann

One showcase is dedicated to the works of Charles Robert Ashbee, who founded the Guild of Handicraft and only employed untrained workers in order to have full control of their development as craftsmen. Among his works is a marvelous set of jam or butter dishes and a breathtakingly beautiful muffin dish, both decorated with semiprecious stones – one of the trademarks of Ashbee’s designs.

muffin dish by Charles Robert Ashbee	salt and pepper by Charles Robert Ashbee

Many more designs from architects born in what Margo calls the "Magic Decade" (1860-70), like Henri van der Velde and Richard Riemerschmid, round out the visitor’s picture of this early period.

ice cream set Henri van der Velde

Very impressive is the showcase with silver designed by William Spratling here we find a coffeepot of marvelously balanced design and a wide sterling bracelet with bezel-set azure-malachite stones, which every girl would love to have on her wrist.

bracelet with bezel-set azure-malachite stones by William Spratling	coffeepot by William Spratling

My favorite Spratling pieces are a pair of large salad servers in rosewood and inlaid silver, which Margo found on one of her England trips.

salad servers in rosewood and inlaid silver by William Spratling

In the last decades of the 20th century there was a renewed interest in working with celebrated architects. In America the firm of Swid Powell employed famous architects to design modern functional table utensils and accessories, and in the exhibition are the Courtney silver plate candlesticks, 1989, designed by Charles Gwathmey and Robert Siegel. Reed & Barton produced Diamond- pattern flatware from a design by Gio Ponti, adapted by Robert H. Ramp for commercial production.

Courtney silver plate candlesticks by Charles Gwathmey and Robert Siegel	Reed & Barton Diamond- pattern flatware by Gio Ponti

Special mention must be given to the many pieces of modern Italian silversmithing. Ettore Sottsass, who co-founded Memphis, a radical Italian design group active from 1981-1988 in Milan, is represented by his monumental centerpiece, described on the exhibition label as "both architectonic and luxurious, the Murmansk Fruit Stand was hailed as a transformation of function by form". The silversmith’s studio San Lorenzo, Milan, was founded by Italian silversmith Ciro Cacchione, who worked with a group of internationally renowned architects. His aim was to revive Italian silver production to reflect innovative modernism as well as the Italian tradition of wonderful craftsmanship. Here we see Lella Valle Vignelli’s Seicento necklace, more a showpiece than a functional adornment, and the Pannocchia bowl by Franco Albini and Franca Helg, designed as early as 1971, but only executed in 2004.
The combination of red plastic and sterling silver not only introduces color but also gives the silver of Maurizio Duranti a whimsical touch. He designed the Tavoliere tray, Village sugar bowl and pitcher from the Maduar Series, 955, dating to 1982, and executed by Gabriele De Vecchi in 1995.

Maurizio Duranti: Tavoliere tray, Village sugar bowl and pitcher (1982)	toast-rack Duranti/De Vecchi

Compared to Margo’s monumental show at the San Francisco Airport (see article # 83 on ASCAS website) the Houston exhibition is small. The curator of this exhibition, Cindi Strauss, is to be congratulated for selecting and beautifully arranging fifty exquisite pieces in a jewel-like setting.
Especially notable is the display of flatware pieces, which seem to float in space, allowing the visitors to see them from all sides. The combined display of jewelry and silver pieces, often by the same designer/architect, is especially successful and might lure the beginning collector.
The exhibition was generously supported by Gensler, a firm of architects which Margo helped to build.

At the opening Margo Grant Walsh gave a beautiful lecture to an audience of silver aficionados, architects and art students. She related stories of events and people figuring prominently in the development of her collection, and generally conveyed her deep passion for design and how collecting had enriched her life. As an aside, it pleases Margo that all three shows of her silver collection took place in important buildings: the Portland Museum of Art, designed by Pietro Belluschi; the San Francisco Airport designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (a firm Margo worked for more than 10 years) and the Caroline Wiess Law Building, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, designed by Mies van der Rohe.

 

The book, "Collecting by design, Silver & Metalwork of the Twentieth Century from the Margo Grant Walsh Collection" (ISBN 978-0-300-13892-4) accompanies this exhibition, but is really a record of the San Francisco Airport Show, which exhibited about 800 pieces in 40 large showcases (it was a special pleasure to again meet Wally Gilbert, the silversmith whose beaker is featured on the cover of this book.) The catalogue is written by Timothy O'Brien and Margo Grant Walsh, with a preface by MFAH director Dr. Peter Marzio and an introduction by Cindi Strauss. The catalogue is published by the MFAH, attractively priced ($ 25.00) and available through the MFAH bookstore. Designed by Architects: Metalwork from the Margo Grant Walsh Collection is a must-see exhibition for anybody who loves modern silver or wants to learn more about it. I would like to thank Cindi Strauss and Frances Stephens, both MFAH, for supplying the beautiful photos.

Collecting by Design - Silver & Metalwork of the Twentieth Century from the Margo Grant Walsh Collection bookcover illustrated with a beaker by Wally Gilbert