For sale a stunning set of chromed mid-century modernist stackable/modular “NAGEL” candle holders, designed by Werner Stoff and commissioned by Hans Nagel for Gebrüder Nagel AG, Wesseling, Germany in the 1960s.
These modular candle holders are a lot of fun, allowing for endless combinations and compositions, always looking fantastically sculptural and often being used as purely decorative objects rather than for their intended purpose. The stands/bases add a further visual element as well as another level of utility.
This set, which comprises 9 candle holders and 3 stands, is in very good vintage condition with minor wear commensurate with 50+ years of age and careful use.
Individual candle holder: D – 10cm / H – 6.5cm. Stand dimension: D – 9cm / H – 10cm
Backstory:
Its history begins with the Nagel family, who lived in a small village near Cologne after the Second World War, producing handmade ashtrays, vases and candlesticks. Barely 20 years after the war ended, then 35-year-old Hans Nagel met architect and artist Werner Stoff in the Cologne design community.
Nagel was struck with an idea while skiing in the Alps, when a sudden fall forced him to use his wrist to break it, creating three holes in the snow with his fingers. The perfect holes brought a candle holder to mind — a beautiful, sculptured and simple candle holder with room for three slim sticks. Nagel then commissioned Stoff with the design of the candle holder, which then evolved into a modular solution and resulted in this iconic post-war German design.
For what it’s worth, these candle holders are often wrongly attributed to Frtiz Nagel and Ceasar Stoffi for BMF, Though BMF did produce later versions of this design.
Please click here to make an enquiry.
