DESIGN BEFORE ITS TIME: HUMMEL COLLECTION OF CHRISTOPHER DRESSER WORKS COMES TO BONHAMS
Left: Christopher Dresser for Hukin & Heath, Toast Rack, ‘Model 1987’, 1878. 14cm high, 15cm deep. Estimate: £10,000-15,000. Right: Christopher Dresser. Photography courtesy of the Linnean Society of London.
London – The Julius Hummel Collection of works by the pioneering designer and theorist Christopher Dresser (British, 1834-1904) will be offered on bonhams.com from 25 February – 6 March. Leading the sale is an exceptional Christopher Dresser for Hukin & Heath Toast Rack, ‘Model 1987’, 1878, offered with an estimate of £10,000-15,000.
Otto Billström, Head of 20th Century Decorative Arts at Bonhams Knightsbridge, commented, “Christopher Dresser was one of the most significant innovators of the 19th century, both in design theory and in artistic production. His work revolutionised modern aesthetics, which is showcased in the impressive variety of works in the sale which bring together influences from industrial Britain, Japan, the US and more. It is a privilege to present such a fine collection of work by Dresser, selected by Professor Julius Hummel, one of the most eminent scholars of European modernism, craft and innovative design. The Julius Hummel Collection reflects not only Dresser’s vast technical range, but it also reveals an insight into the mind of a collector and scholar investigating interconnecting influences between designers and theorists in Britain and beyond.”
Christopher Dresser for James Couper & Sons, Clutha Solifleur Vase, circa 1895. 42cm high, 16cm diameter. Estimate: £5,000-7,000.
Chrisopher Dresser was born in Glasgow in 1834. At the age of 13, he moved to London to attend the Government School of Design at Somerset House, which set the foundation for his career as an independent industrial designer and theorist. His publications include The Art of Decorative Design (1862), Principles of Decorative Design (1873) and Studies in Design (1876), which were influential both in Britain and internationally.
At once striving for utilitarian design for the domestic consumer and acknowledging the benefits of the Industrial Revolution, Dresser produced a comprehensive range of designs for many important manufacturers. From furniture and carpets to metalwork and glass, Dresser continued to develop his design ethos that beauty lay in a design’s form and function, creating household objects which were unified through their appearance as modern, linear and elegant.
Christopher Dresser for Hukin & Heath Tureen and Ladle, 'Model 2123', 1880, Estimate: £7,000-9,000
Professor Julius Hummel is a leading authority on the Viennese design movement Wiener Werkstätte, and a collector of 19th and 20th century utilitarian design. His important collection of works by Christopher Dresser explores the connection between many pioneers of design throughout Europe, notably Dresser’s influence on some of the early forms and styles of the Wiener Werkstätte group. The collection comprises 38 works of exemplary industrial design, spanning almost three decades of artistic innovation. Including all the components of a domestic tablescape, the sale will offer a number of Dresser’s signature designs including toast racks, tea sets, pitchers and tureens which illustrate his devotion to utilitarian design and simplification of form.
Christopher Dresser for Hukin & Heath Toast rack, 'Model 1987', 1878. Estimate: £10,000-15,000
A Toast Rack, ‘Model 1987’, 1878, by Christopher Dresser for Hukin & Heath leads the collection with an estimate of £10,000-15,000. Hukin & Heath became widely known for their extraordinary craftsmanship, owing to Dresser’s novel creative vision which was over half a century ahead of its time. Dresser’s toast rack designs epitomise his design revolution, simplifying the object’s form to its most linear components, stripping the surface of ornamentation and prioritising its functionality. Few examples of Dresser’s six-bar toast racks were produced, making the Model 1987 Toast Rack a rare and highly coveted piece.
Additional highlights of the sale include:
Christopher Dresser for Hukin & Heath, Crow’s Foot Claret Jug, ‘Model 4321’, 1879. Estimate: £8,000-12,000
Christopher Dresser for Hukin & Heath Tureen and Ladle, 'Model 2123', 1880, Estimate: £7,000-9,000
Christopher Dresser for James Couper & Sons, Clutha Solifleur Vase, circa 1895. Estimate: £5,000-7,000
Christopher Dresser for James Dixon & Sons, Tea Set, ‘Model 2293’, circa 1890. Estimate: £4,000-5,000
Christopher Dresser for Minton, Tea Caddy and Cover, ‘Model 1471’, circa 1870. Estimate: £1,500-2,500
