Arts & Photography, Reference 

The Swid Powell firm, based in New York, teams the architectural talent of some of the most celebrated names in the design world with mass-production techniques in tableware. The result, presented here, reflects the cutting edge of today's architectural scene, from high modernism to Italian new wave, neoclassicism and de-constructivism. Founded by partners Nan Swid and Addie Powell, Swid Powell produces an extraordinary range of innovative and beautiful items designed for the contemporary home, including plates, cups, flatware, bowls, candlesticks, serving trays, picture frames, vases, pitchers, and many other objects for domestic use. The creators of these pieces are leading architects from around the world: Michael Graves, Gwathmey-Siegel, Richard Meier, Arquitectonica, Robert A.M. Stern, Stanley Tigerman, Robert Venturi and Steven Holl of the United States; Zaha Hadid of Great Britain; Ettore Sottsass, George Sowden and Paolo Portoghesi of Italy; and Arata Isozaki of Japan. Each architect brings a special sense of form, colour, scale and presence to his designs. Here is a captivating look at the history of architect-designed objects, with sections devoted to the architects themselves, projects both realized and unrealized, and the unique process of translating an architect's drawings into functional design. - from Amzon