A recent trip to Stockholm to see the exhibit "Reclaiming Beauty" by Mats Gustafson and Ted Muehling at Millesgården led Mikkel down memory lane...
Our founder Mikkel first visited Ted Muehling’s original shop on 53 Greene Street in SoHO 23 years ago. The artistic environment at the gallery astonished Mikkel and for years he revisited the shop each time he was in NYC. In 2006, Cooper Hewitt held an exhibit entitled ‘Feeding Desire’, showcasing cutlery from 1500-2005. Ted Muehling’s branch spoons were displayed as part of the exhibit. That same Spring Ted and Mikkel were introduced and Ted, seeing his talent and eye for aesthetic details, immediately hired Mikkel.
This led to many years of experience at Muehling’s studios, working at the bench, assisting in developing new creations, and developing designs in jewelry, ceramic, glass, objects, still life photography, etc. Among many projects Mikkel worked on was the Rizzoli publishing of Ted and Don Freeman's book, A Portrait, a chrysanthemum candle holder, several bronze, glass and porcelain candelabras, and an incredible bookcase for the members of the MoMA Library Council Island of Rota. This piece was crafted of sanded wood, bejeweled with coral, pearls and shells, and included handmade book sleeves in lacquered bronze.
In 2009, Mikkel spent an especially meaningful summer in Sag Harbor with Ted and his partner Mats Gustafson. That summer Mats was drawing his first Swans editions in his newly built atelier, and showed Mikkel some of the pastel sketches. Later that Fall, Mikkel and his mother Anamarie had the honor of viewing the completed exhibit ‘Swans’ at John McWhinnie @ Glenn Horowitz Bookseller and Gallery on the Upper East Side.
The decade at the Muehling Studio was an incredible chapter for Mikkel. He developed many new relationships and continued his studies at Pratt Institute, Parsons, FIT, GIA and Haystack School of Crafts. Just as other Muehling assistants; David Weeks, Gabriella Kiss, Philip Crangi, Maria Beaulieu, Mikkel began his own studio crafting and creating designs.
