Shape 639

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The Porcelain Service Form 639 was in 1934 by Wilhelm Wagenfeld for the porcelain manufacturer Fürstenberg designed. The simple design was awarded a gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1937 . The timeless service is still produced in the Fürstenberg porcelain factory to this day. The Form 639 service , along with the Daphne and Gloriana services designed for the Rosenthal porcelain factory in 1938 and 1953, is one of the most successful works by Wagenfeld that he performed in porcelain .

history

After the death of director Mehner, Fritz Kreikemeier took over the management of the factory in 1934 . By restructuring and modernizing the factory and realigning the product range, Kreikemeier tried to overcome the difficult economic situation that had arisen as a result of the global economic crisis . His plan to engage Hermann Gretsch as a product designer failed because of Gretsch's contractual relationship with the Arzberg porcelain factory . In 1934, however, he was able to work with Wilhelm Wagenfeld, one of the most influential industrial designers at the Bauhaus , to design a modern tableware service. At that time, Wagenfeld was mostly working as a freelancer and was a lecturer at the State Art College in Berlin .

Service parts with ivory-colored glaze and vignette, around 1940

As early as 1933, Kreikemeier built up intensive contacts with the NSDAP in order to secure extensive public contracts for the Fürstenberg manufacture. He propagated the simple crockery service 639 as the new Fürstenberg standard crockery , which was decorated with a wide variety of vignettes for public orders from the National Socialists . Among other things, special versions were produced for the air force , the Reichsjägerhof "Hermann Göring" , for the Reich Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda as well as for the national political educational institutions . Service 639 with a celadon- colored decorative ribbon was produced in 1943 for the 39 schools of the Reich Youth Leadership . In addition, the more robust version of the service, personalized with monograms and vignettes, was also used in the hotel and catering sector.

After the Second World War , Wagenfeld's designs for Service 639 were revised by Walter Nitzsche and launched on the market as Form 651 in 1950 . This shape was characterized by a more traditional language of forms and décor and represented a departure from the functionalist , simple designs of Wagenfeld.

In the course of the range cleaning at the Porzellanmanufaktur Fürstenberg, production of the simple service 639 , which no longer corresponds to the zeitgeist, was discontinued in 1957 . For the trading house Boerma in Maastricht , parts of the Form 639 were combined with parts of the Services 644 and 654 at the end of the 1950s and then sold exclusively as Form 663 .

Crockery parts of the porcelain service form 639
Creamer

Since the 2000s - encouraged by the increased demand for Bauhaus and Werkbund designs - Fürstenberg decided to include the 639 tableware service in the production program again.

Design concept

The development of the porcelain series was based on Wagenfeld's idea of ​​designing individually combinable, elegant and timeless tableware that can be gradually added to. Wilhelm Wagenfeld's design was characterized by organic shapes with pleasing curves, the edges are optically emphasized by narrow beads. The disc-shaped knobs of the lids for the jugs and cans are connected to the vessel with short handles. In addition to a table and coffee service, he also designed parts for a tea service. To Wagenfeld's annoyance, Kreikemeier had porcelain parts produced in the factory as supplements without consulting the designer.

“Service 639, which was created in Fürstenberg around 1934, was actually completely changed in its overall character. But not by changing the parts that have been drawn by me and modeled with me, but - which is the same or more drastic - by adding "Entw. W." a low teapot, sugar bowls with and without feet, a low milk can, soup cup with lid, children's cup, bread basket, butter sauciers, cabarets, compote bowls, egg cups, bone bowls, Managen [sic!], sardine bowls, asparagus platters, cake platters, drip bowl with plate, sugar plateau, Sauce spoons, oval sauce boats, sauce terrine, salad dishes with flags, fish platters and plates with soft edges were added, all of which were "additions" that I discovered for the first time in the catalog. That practically spoiled the service, my name just a decoration. [...] I spoke to Kreikemeier very soon and tried to make him understand what a pathetic bastard the dishes had become through his unauthorized actions. I was able to prove to him [...] how necessary a uniform line, the same hand, must be felt for a service if it is not to result in a compromise that is boring and difficult to sell. "

- Wilhelm Wagenfeld (1955) : Christian Lechelt: Die Porzellanmanufaktur Fürstenberg - From privatization in 1859 to the present , p. 154

In addition to the tableware services, Wagenfeld designed a number of decorative items for Fürstenberg in 1934, such as various vases, a box and a candlestick.

Designs and decors

Lidded terrine of the service form 639

In the present, the coffee, tea and table service is made in pure white glaze, white with a platinum edge or white with a black contour. In the 1930s, in keeping with the spirit of the times , shape 639 was also made with an ivory-colored glaze and as a greenish celadon porcelain. In addition to a household version, the service was also produced in a more robust quality for the hotel and catering sector.

The service was decorated with floral decorations, monograms and vignettes, especially during the Nazi era . In addition, the simple service was often decorated with differently colored contours. Gold decorations had to be avoided during the war, as the use of precious metals for products on the domestic market was prohibited after the outbreak of war . Scattered flower decorations were also widespread at this time, which contradicted the simple, simple designs of Wagenfeld.

Awards

The coffee, tea and dinner service was shown at various trade shows and art exhibitions in the 1930s. In 1936, Wagenfeld Service 639 received the second highest award, an honorary diploma, at the 6th Triennale in Milan . A year later, the service was honored with a gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris .

literature

  • Christian Lechelt : The Fürstenberg Porcelain Manufactory - From privatization in 1859 to the present . In: The Braunschweigische Stiftung - Richard Borek Stiftung - Stiftung Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz (ed.): Die Porzellanmanufaktur Fürstenberg , Volume III, Appelhans, Braunschweig 2016, ISBN 978-3-944939-23-0 , Die Form 639 by Wilhelm Wagenfeld, p. 153-155
  • Beate Manske: Wilhelm Wagenfeld (1900–1990) . Wilhelm Wagenfeld Foundation (ed.), Hatje Cantz, Berlin, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 978-3-7757-0885-2 , 206 pp.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Christian Lechelt: The Porcelain Manufactory Fürstenberg - From privatization in 1859 to the present . In: The Braunschweigische Stiftung - Richard Borek Stiftung - Stiftung Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz (Hrsg.): The Porcelain Manufactory Fürstenberg . tape III . Appelhans, Braunschweig 2016, ISBN 978-3-944939-23-0 , public contracts, p. 150 .
  2. ↑ Christian Lechelt: The Fürstenberg Porcelain Manufactory - From privatization in 1859 to the present . In: The Braunschweigische Stiftung - Richard Borek Stiftung - Stiftung Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz (Hrsg.): The Porcelain Manufactory Fürstenberg . tape III . Appelhans, Braunschweig 2016, ISBN 978-3-944939-23-0 , The situation of the manufactory 1945-1949, p. 190 .
  3. ↑ Christian Lechelt: The Fürstenberg Porcelain Manufactory - From privatization in 1859 to the present . In: The Braunschweigische Stiftung - Richard Borek Stiftung - Stiftung Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz (Hrsg.): The Porcelain Manufactory Fürstenberg . tape III . Appelhans, Braunschweig 2016, ISBN 978-3-944939-23-0 , The situation of the manufactory 1945-1949, p. 191 .
  4. ^ Karl H. Bröhan (Ed.): Art of the 20s and 30s. Paintings, sculptures, handicrafts, industrial design . Berlin 1985, ISBN 978-3-9800083-2-7 , pp. 151 .
  5. ↑ Christian Lechelt: The Fürstenberg Porcelain Manufactory - From privatization in 1859 to the present . In: The Braunschweigische Stiftung - Richard Borek Stiftung - Stiftung Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz (Hrsg.): The Porcelain Manufactory Fürstenberg . tape III . Appelhans, Braunschweig 2016, ISBN 978-3-944939-23-0 , public contracts, p. 151 .
  6. ^ Wilhelm Wagenfeld Foundation: Biography 1931-1946. Retrieved November 7, 2017 .

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