Christian Dell – Wiesbaden City Museum Foundation, Germany

Christian Dell (Offenbach 1893-1974 Wiesbaden) was trained in Hanau. As a teacher at Weimar Bauhaus (as a so called Werkmeister) and at Frankfurt School of Art (now Städelschool) he influenced generations of designers- especially in the field of lighting design.

It is about time to rediscover this lesser-known designer and the rich diversity of his work!

The exhibition showcases the full range of his work- from early silver objects to experimental plastic pieces and sophisticated, serial manufactured lamps which are nowadays displayed in international design museums. The exhibition presents Dell´s sources of inspiration, as well as his influence on students, including Marianne Brandt and Wilhelm Wagenfeld.

In addition, it shows the transition from craftmanship to industrial design: Technological innovations enabled serial production of aesthetically pleasing, yet affordable objects with high practical value. This stimulated the development of living and working environment. Did Dell internalize debates of his time about the “right” way of life? To what extent do these continue to influence today´s reality or visions of the future?

The Foundation of the Wiesbaden City Museum preserves, presents and communicates the heritage of Wiesbaden and its surrounding area, especially the region of the former Duchy of Nassau. Its goal is to reach all segments of the population and foster a shared identity.