Dinner Service by Donald Judd

Creative innovation and artisanal prowess have been central to the origin and mission of Puiforcat for over two centuries. Through the continuous cultivation of contemporary concepts, close collaboration with influential talents, and the support of our close-knit team of master silversmiths, our Maison revisits its historical pieces and develops new designs by utilizing its proprietary expertise. Puiforcat, in partnership with Judd Foundation, has now realized an eight-piece dinner service designed by American artist Donald Judd (1928-1994).

Dinner Service by Donald Judd

For four decades, Judd demonstrated his understanding of scale and proportion through his work in art, architecture, and design. In 1989, Judd developed a dinner service that embodied this aesthetic philosophy.

Sketching numerous pieces comprised of cylindrical forms intersected by perpendicular planes, the artist designed a series of bowls, plates, and cups. The original set, which consisted of several plates produced in ceramic and stainless-steel prototypes, did not achieve the sharp-edge precision Judd had intended.

By the time of his passing in 1994, he had yet to further realize these designs in other materials referenced in archival materials.

Image caption: Donald Judd, drawing for dishes, undated, pencil on paper, 11 x 8.5 inches (27.9 x 21.6 cm). Donald Judd Papers, Judd Foundation Archives, Marfa, Texas. Image © Judd Foundation.

Dinner Service by Donald Judd

Under the direction of Flavin Judd, artistic director of Judd Foundation, together with Puiforcat artistic directors Charlotte Perelman and Alexis Fabry, the company has produced Judd’s designs in sterling silver. Developed in a process which involved working closely with Judd Foundation to interpret and complete Judd’s designs in a new material, the pieces now achieve the incredibly tight 90-degree angles of his original prototypes.

Dinner Service by Donald Judd

Following the specifications in Judd’s concept sketches and technical drawings, housed in Judd Foundation’s archives in Marfa, Texas, Puiforcat silversmiths shaped the metal into cylindrical vessels using silverware traditional techniques to achieve the precision designated as the standard for Judd’s work.

All the surfaces of the finished objects are polished and buffed to reveal the metal natural shine; a technique that adds to the collection’s consistent formal vocabulary.

Dinner Service by Donald Judd

The eight-piece service includes distinct yet complementary dinner, bread, soup, salad, and dessert plates, as well as a serving bowl and cups. Configured in various dimensions, the items form a full table setting. Each piece is numbered, and stamped with an artist mark, the luxury brand’s emblematic diamond shaped logo containing founder Emile Puiforcat’s EP initials.