This comprehensive book examines the work of celebrated modernist industrial designer Peter Muller-Munk, an international leader in his field during the mid-twentieth century. This ground breaking book situates Peter Muller-Munk (1904-1967), a German emigre to the U.S., among the most influential designers of his generation. It presents the untold story of a man who rose from anonymity as a young silversmith at Tiffany & Co. to become a crucial post-war designer, promoting the practice of industrial design across the globe through one of the top design consultancies in America: Peter Muller-Munk Associates (PMMA). This generously illustrated book begins with Muller-Munk’s remarkable Art Deco silver and provides new context for his best-known designs: the streamlined Normandie pitcher and Waring waterfall blender. But the revelation comes in his previously undocumented work: memorable products like cameras, radios, cocktail shakers, power tools, and refrigerators; and total environments for gas stations, international expositions, and mass-transit vehicles. Muller-Munk’s prestigious clients included Bell & Howell, Westinghouse, U.S. Steel, Texaco, and Schick. This compelling overview of Muller-Munk’s life and impressive legacy is punctuated by colourful case studies of his firm’s contributions to wide-ranging aspects of mid-century life.
AUTHOR: Rachel Delphia is the Alan G. and Jane A. Lehman Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh. Jewel Stern is an artist, art historian, and independent scholar. Catherine Walworth is curatorial research assistant at Carnegie Museum of Art. 180 colour illustrations