Peter Macchiarini

comprising a teapot, covered sugar bowl and creamer

Fifty/50 Gallery, acquired directly from the artist
John Jesse, London
Deco Deluxe, New York
Acquired from the above by the present owner, 1999

California Crafts, American Federation of the Arts, New York, 1951

Wendy Kaplan, Living in a Modern Way:  California Design 1930-1965, Cambridge, MA, 2011, p. 225, no. 7.30, cat. 198 (for a related tea service)

Overall in very good condition. The silver with minor surface scratches and minute edge abrasions consistent with age and gentle use. The milk jug with minor evidence of pitting on one side of the body, not at all visually distracting. The interior of the pieces with minor wear consistent with age and gentle use. The ebony is in very good condition with a few shallow surface scratches consistent with age and gentle use. A unique tea service with an extraordinarily dynamic and modern design. -----
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Peter Macchiarini’s adept combination of primary forms and sleek surfaces characterizes this unique tea service. Well-known for his studio jewelry and works of sculpture, Macchiarini’s experimental product designs are characterized by a formal language of geometry, balance, and planar construction. Here, the user is presented with the sleek spherical forms of each vessel for preparing and imbibing tea. The smooth and rounded bodies of each piece contrast evocatively with the angle of each dramatic ebony handle and are rhythmically echoed in the construction of the delicate yet strong supporting feet. The juxtaposition of reflective surfaces with the rich velvety texture of the ebony handles parallels the play of light and texture that Macchiarini is famous for exploring in his inventive studio jewelry designs.

Macchiarini’s involvement with the Works Progress Administration in San Francisco in the 1930s was characterized by an engagement with both art and design, through his work on stage and marionette designs with Ralph Chesse. By 1936, he started his own jewelry studio and became influential in organizing and supporting the arts community of the San Francisco Bay Area.

The design of the present example is a unique prototype, of which Macchiarini personally considered the most interesting and dynamic of his tea service designs. The present lot is one of only three tea services ever designed by Macchiarini. The service was included in the “American Federation of the Arts” exhibition of 1951 under the jewelry and holloware category.

As quoted in Art and Architectura from August 1949, the designer was “motivated by the desire to explore the inside of solid forms… layer upon layer has been pierced, making each successive strata smaller until the greatest depth has been reached.” Although referring to his jewelry and sculpture designs with complex fenestrations, this analysis still highlights the depth of Macchiarini’s overarching approach to design, and notably relates to the focus on dynamic geometric forms employed in this unique tea service.  

This lot is sold with an original letter from Peter Macchiarini that documents the present lot as a unique service.