Metropolis Cup and Saucer designed by Belle Kogan

The spirit of the new

Prevailing against a view from most manufacturers that women didn't know machinery, Belle Kogan (1902–2000) distinguished herself as one of the few American women industrial designers active during the founding years of the profession in the late 1920s. She was the first woman to establish her own independent consulting firm, building a staff of three female designers by 1939. For the design of this cup and saucer in 1935, Kogan drew upon the influences of European avant-garde artistic movements and adapted them for a modern American audience.

Metropolis

Object Details

Date
designed 1935; patented 1936
Designer
Belle Kogan, American, 1902–2000
Manufacturer
Erphila
Importer:
Ebeling & Reuss, Incorporated, American
Catalogue Status
Research in Progress
Description
A white cup and saucer depicting an abstract outdoor scene. Image is on both inside and outside of cup. The saucer has brown stripes around the rim.
manufactured in
Germany
See more items in
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Collection
Product Design and Decorative Arts Department
Credit Line
Gift of Belle Kogan
Data Source
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Accession Number
1994-55-1-a,b
Type
ceramics
Decorative Arts
Object Name
Cup and saucer
Type
Cup and saucer
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Medium
Glazed earthenware
Dimensions
H x W (a, b: overall): 5.6 x 7.8 cm (2 3/16 x 3 1/16 in.)
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kq49b668bb3-52db-4c45-bb1e-f753938220a5
Record ID
chndm_1994-55-1-a_b