Brutalist Wall Sconces – Wilhelm Braun Feldweg

• Wilhelm Braun Feldweg & Doria publisher, suite of 3 ultra-lightweight polished aluminum wall lights, circa 1960
• H 31.5 CM X D 8.5 CM X W 12 CM.
• Nice condition, lot not to be sold individually

Brutalist Wall Sconces by Wilhelm Braun-Feldweg

A pair of polished aluminum brutalist wall sconces, attributed to German designer Wilhelm Braun-Feldweg. Their sculptural relief and surface treatment reflect a formal exploration of material and light, characteristic of post-war German design.

The composition plays on the contrast between smooth surfaces and more rugged volumes, capturing light in a diffuse manner. This type of work follows an approach where the object transcends its function to become a full architectural element.

Wilhelm Braun-Feldweg (1908–1998) was a major figure in German industrial design. Initially trained as a steel engraver, he studied painting at the Stuttgart Academy of Fine Arts before turning to art history. After earning his doctorate in 1939, he began a teaching career interrupted by the war, followed by several years of captivity in Egypt.

From 1948, he actively participated in the intellectual and industrial reconstruction of Germany. Appointed professor at the Schwäbisch Gmünd Technical College, he developed a curriculum in 1950 dedicated to industrial product design, helping to structure a then-emerging discipline.

His research focused primarily on glass and metal, materials he explored through collaborations with manufacturers such as WMF. He also designed lighting, door handles, and everyday objects, always with a focus on integrating form and function.

In 1958, he moved to Berlin and helped found the chair of industrial design at the Academy of Fine Arts, where he taught until 1973. His influence extends far beyond his personal production, notably through the generations of designers trained under his direction.

These sconces illustrate this rigorous approach to design, where materiality and construction take precedence over ornament. They fit as well in a modernist interior as in a more eclectic decor, where their sculptural presence can be fully utilized.