Literature:

Thomas Föhl and Antje Neumann (eds.), Henry van de Velde. Interior art and arts and crafts, a catalogue raisonné in six volumes, Volume I: Metal art. Leipzig 2009, for model I: 274-374, also owned by THK, pp. 280-281 (image of the same cutlery pieces), p. 283 (historical photo of cutlery pieces from series I), p. 287 (final drawing by Koch & Bergfeld with fork and knife), pp. 293, 308 and 309 (cutlery pieces and description), cat. no. I.3.1.7, I.3.1.28, I.3.1.30.

This cutlery from the “Modell I” series, designed in 1902, is Henry van de Velde's very first cutlery design and also his most artistically significant. It bears the owner's monogram - also designed by van de Velde - of Theodor Koerner jun. from whose estate it comes. The impetus for the design of the cutlery was the commission for the silver gift for the grand ducal bridal couple in Weimar. Within just a few months, the artist, in collaboration with the Weimar firm Theodor Müller and the Bremen silverware factory Koch und Bergfeld, had to produce the silver set, comprising several hundred pieces, which was intended for a smaller table of 12 people. The cutlery series for model “I” comprised 72 functional pieces. The series was also manufactured by Koch & Bergfeld for a larger clientele until well into the 1930s. Each piece of cutlery from the first design phase in 1902/03 was individually designed. Van de Velde chose between different handle shapes to suit the cutlery's function and ease of use.