six sided vase, flaring outward from base

Vase, 1927

Not on Viewexpand_more

Kay Fisker was an early proponent of functionalism (the Nordic term for International Style), breaking with the neo-classical tradition of the early 20th century. As a young architect he worked with famous Swedish functionalists Sigurd Lewerentz and Gunnar Asplund, and went on to become one of the leading figures in Danish architecture, responsible for the Danish pavilion at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1925.

As a designer for A. Michelsen, his committment to the modern aesthetic was a renewal for Danish silver. While many of his works in silver retain decorative curves, this piece in particular captures the stylstic vocabulary he developed concurrently as an architect, which emphasized clean lines and a lack of embellishment. The geometric shape with flat planar surfaces, balanced proportions, and sharp finishing conveys the sense of restrained elegance at the heart of functionalist design.

Details
Title
Vase
Artist Life
1893 - 1965
Role
Designer
Accession Number
94.91.2
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know

Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.

six sided vase, flaring outward from base