Eliel Saarinen’s Tea or Coffee Urn: A Masterpiece of American Modernist Metalwork

Eliel Saarinen’s tea or coffee urn, created in 1934, is a quintessential example of American Modernist metalwork from the 1930s. Widely celebrated for its design and craftsmanship, it was featured in the industrial art exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1934. This event was part of a series aimed at fostering collaborations between artists and manufacturers, and Saarinen’s work exemplified this synergy.

A Journey from Europe to America

Eliel Saarinen (1873-1950) was an influential European emigrant who significantly impacted American design. With a distinguished early career as an architect in Finland and Germany, Saarinen moved to America in 1923. By 1932, he had become the President of the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, a position from which he designed the iconic urn. The Cranbrook Academy, heavily influenced by the Bauhaus, featured workshops for metal, textiles, and ceramics, providing a fertile ground for innovative designs.

Design and Production

The urn was designed for industrial production, showcasing advanced techniques. The sphere is spun, the pierced gallery is stamped, and the use of silver plate made it economically accessible. However, despite its design intentions, the urn was produced in very limited numbers. American consumers of the time deemed it too avant-garde, preferring more traditional silverware designs. It might have found greater favour if it had been produced in chrome or aluminium.

Technical and Aesthetic Details

The urn, designed by Saarinen and produced by the Wilcox Silver Plate Company, is characterized by its futuristic design elements. With a height of 360 mm and a width of 274 mm, the urn features flat handles and a round tray, combining geometry and nature—a balance Saarinen consistently sought in his work. The spire finial and linear spout further enhance its aesthetic, merging machine-age elements with natural forms.

Limited Production and Legacy

This urn was part of a limited series made for use at Cranbrook, including examples with ebony handles and lid inserts. Saarinen’s urn, along with a matching creamer and sugar bowl plated in brass with Bakelite inserts, is now in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Another version, designed for mass production with wider slats and no bun feet, appeared in several exhibitions, including the “Contemporary American Industrial Arts” exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1934 and the “Exhibition of Home Furnishings” at the Cranbrook Pavilion in 1935.

Despite its limited production, Saarinen’s urn has left a lasting legacy. Retailing at $80 for the urn and $30 for the tray, few were manufactured, but it continued to appear in numerous exhibitions and publications, inspiring many prominent industrial designers.

Historical Perspective

Saarinen’s work at Cranbrook was crucial in disseminating European progressive design ideas in America. The academy’s organization, heavily influenced by the Bauhaus, fostered an environment where innovative design could thrive. Saarinen’s urn exemplifies this fusion of European modernist principles with American industrial capabilities.

Conclusion

Eliel Saarinen’s tea or coffee urn is more than just a piece of metalwork; it is a testament to the fusion of artistry and industrial design. Its limited production and avant-garde design reflect the challenges and triumphs of modernist design in the early 20th century. This urn remains a classic of twentieth-century design, admired for its aesthetic and historical significance.

Sources

Cranbrook Art Museum. (n.d.). Eliel Saarinen, designer: Tea urn and tray. Retrieved May 30, 2024, from https://cranbrookartmuseum.org/artwork/eliel-saarinen-designer-tea-urn-and-tray/

Google Arts & Culture. (n.d.). Eliel Saarinen, a tea or coffee urn. Retrieved May 30, 2024, from https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/eliel-saarinen-a-tea-or-coffee-urn/YwHR-zpNq5GDOQ

The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (n.d.). Tea urn (1934) by Eliel Saarinen. Retrieved May 30, 2024, from https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/490238

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