Exhibtion: Christian Dell (1893–1974) – Von der Silberkanne zur Goldgasse, sam – Stadtmuseum am Markt, June 17–November 15, 2026
As part of the World Design Capital Frankfurt Rhine-Main, the sam – Stadtmuseum am Markt [Museum for the city’s history] is dedicating an exhibition to one of the most significant design pioneers of the 20th century.
Christian Dell is considered one of the defining designers of the Modernist era. His designs—including the famous lamps from the “Kaiser Idell” series—are regarded today as icons of modern design. Less well known, however, is his connection to Wiesbaden: Dell spent the second half of his life in the capital of Hesse.
This special exhibition explores the life and work of a designer who bridged the worlds of craftsmanship, the Bauhaus, and industrial production. From his early years as a silversmith in Hanau, through his time at the Bauhaus in Weimar, to his work as a teacher and designer in Frankfurt, the exhibition offers new perspectives on an extraordinary life journey.
On display are lamps, metalwork, photographs, sketches, and documents from various phases of his career. The exhibition focuses not only on Dell’s well-known design classics but also on the ideas, materials, and networks of modernism.
At the same time, it offers a fresh perspective on Christian Dell as a figure from Wiesbaden—and on the question of why his work remains world-renowned to this day, while his biography has long remained in the background.
Ills.: Christian Dell, ca. 1930; Christian Dell / Geb. Kaiser und Co, table lamp from the series “Idell,” 1936/37.
