Christian Dell is considered one of the defining designers of the modern era. His designs—including the famous lamps from the “Kaiser Idell” series—are now regarded 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.

The special exhibition at sam – Stadtmuseum am Markt is dedicated to 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 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 creative phases. 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 known worldwide to this day, while his biography long remained in the background.

Christian Dell began his career as a silversmith. Early on, he combined technical precision with an interest in new forms and materials. During his time at the Bauhaus in Weimar and later at the Frankfurt School of Art, he developed a design language that continues to influence the field to this day.

The exhibition traces this path through selected milestones and objects. It tells the story of workshops and art schools, of industrial mass production and creative experimentation. At the same time, it reveals how closely design history, social change, and technical innovation were intertwined.

A special focus is placed on Dell’s relationship with Wiesbaden and the question of why, although his work is known worldwide today, he himself received comparatively little attention for a long time.