Ted Muehling, curator of Ted Muehling Selects: Lobmeyr Glass from the Permanent Collection invited Cooper-Hewitt’s Design Watch Members to his SoHo showroom for a private behind-the-scenes visit. On this rainy Monday, Members passed the noisy construction on Howard Street, left their umbrellas by the door, and retreated into a haven of design.
As Members sipped from delicate Lobmeyr glasses, Ted began with a roundtable discussion on his beginnings—studying Industrial Design at Pratt, transitioning into metals, and literally taking a bag of his jewelry to a weekly open call. Members explored the endless “cabinets of curiosities”—Nymphenburg porcelain, a strand of wheat made out of glass, and a Tibetan singing bowl—while two live canaries chirped away in the corner. Rows of beads lined a workstation along with “in progress” jewelry, including an amber earring awaiting its perfect counterpart. Ted shared his personal collection of driftwood from Nantucket’s twisted cedar, that later served as a reference for a rococo inspired line of candlesticks.
Ted Muehling Selects: Lobmeyr Glass from the Permanent Collection remains on view through January 2, 2011. Learn more about Design Watch for a full year of studio visits and other exclusive opportunities.
