Designer: Helen von Boch (1938 – 2007) and Federigo Fabbrini (1928 – 2007)

Item: Avant Garde Stainless Steel Flatware

Manufactured by: Villeroy & Boch

Country of origin: Germany

Year made: Circa 1971  

Materials: Stainless Steel

Dimensions: 7 ¾” x 1 ¼” x 1” each in their assembled state

Description:  Here is a very rare set of six stainless flatware place settings designed to fit inside the stackable plastic La Bomba picnic set designed by Boch and Fabbrini in the 1968/69 time period.  The design was submitted for a United States patent in 1971, which was awarded in 1973.  

The fork, spoon and knife are interlocking and nesting.  Marked “Villeroy & Boch Avant Garde, Made in West Germany.”  Generally they came in sets of four, because that is what the picnic set held.  These are really hard to find in a set of four, so try finding a set of six.  

An example of the entire La Bomba picnic set is in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  Photographs that show how the flatware integrates into the La Bomba set can be found on the websites of the American Craft Council and Mid Mod Design.  In 2014 a single place setting of a fork, knife, spoon and small spoon sold at auction for $300.  

Condition: Very good used condition, with scratches from use.  No dings, dents or other flaws.  The photos show some fingerprints and smudges from handling that we missed before being photographed, but will buff off.

References:  Hiesinger, Kathryn B., Design Since 1945; Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1983; Sotheby's auction catalog, Bauhaus and other 20th century Avant Garde Design lot 236 Nov 1, 1996.