Gio Ponti - Disruptors: Evening Sale of 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Design and Watches Hong Kong Thursday, May 25, 2023 | Phillips
  • Literature

    'Nice Weather for Parties', Vogue, 15 April, 1958, pp. 118-19
    Jewel Stern, Modernism in American Silver: 20th Century Design, exh. cat., Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, 2005, p. 245 for a drawing and an advertisement
    William P. Hood and Jewel Stern, 'The Diamond Pattern by Reed & Barton', Silver Magazine, May-June 2007, cover, pp. 2, 14, 17-18, 20-22
    Sophie Bouilhet-Dumas, Dominique Forest, and Salvatore Lictira, eds., Gio Ponti: Archi-designer, Paris, 2018, p. 136

  • Catalogue Essay

    This exquisite and comprehensive set of ‘Diamond’ flatware for 24 goes beyond its practical purpose and becomes an artistic statement on the dining table. The combination of silver and stainless steel not only enhances its visual appeal but also ensures durability and longevity. Each piece is meticulously crafted, attesting to the elegance of Ponti’s typically geometric designs and the exceptional craftsmanship by Reed & Barton. The unconventional form of the utensils possesses a timeless charm which transcends trends and continues to captivate art and design collectors. Its striking simplicity and versatility make it an ideal addition to any table setting, from formal dinners to casual gatherings. Whether used for everyday meals or special occasions, the flatware elevates any dining experience.

  • Artist Biography

    Gio Ponti

    Italian • 1891 - 1979

    Among the most prolific talents to grace twentieth-century design, Gio Ponti defied categorization. Though trained as an architect, he made major contributions to the decorative arts, designing in such disparate materials as ceramics, glass, wood and metal. A gale force of interdisciplinary creativity, Ponti embraced new materials like plastic and aluminum but employed traditional materials such as marble and wood in original, unconventional ways.

    In the industrial realm, he designed buildings, cars, machinery and appliances — notably, the La Cornuta espresso machine for La Pavoni — and founded the ADI (Industrial Designer Association). Among the most special works by Gio Ponti are those that he made in collaboration with master craftsmen such as the cabinetmaker Giordano Chiesa, the illustrator Piero Fornasetti and the enamellist Paolo de Poli.

    View More Works

347

'Diamond' flatware service for 24

sterling silver, stainless steel
largest utensil: 27 cm. (10 5/8 in.) long
Circa 1958. Manufactured by Reed & Barton, Taunton, Massachusetts. Reverse of each solid-handled piece impressed Reed & Barton/STERLING, each hollow-handled piece impressed REED & BARTON/MIRRORSTELE/STERLING HANDLE. Comprising 24 dinner forks, 24 dinner knives, 24 soup spoons, 24 salad forks, 24 cocktail forks, 24 butter knives, 24 grapefruit spoons, 24 ice cream forks, 24 teaspoons, 2 cold meat forks, 2 pickle forks, 2 pierced serving spoons, 2 serving spoons, 2 berry spoons, 2 gravy ladles, 2 cream ladles, 2 pairs of salad servers, 2 cheese servers, 2 bonbon servers, 2 sugar servers, 2 butter servers, and 2 Jelly Servers (244).

Estimate
HK$190,000 - 280,000 
€22,400-33,000
$24,400-35,900

Sold for HK$254,000

Contact Specialist

Anastasia Salnikoff
Head of Mid-Season Sales
+852 2318 2014
anastasiasalnikoff@phillips.com
 

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
WatchesHK@phillips.com
 

Disruptors: Evening Sale of 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Design and Watches

Hong Kong Auction 25 May 2023