Felipe Derflingher for Feders

FELIPE DERFLINGHER (Mexico, active in the 1960s) for Feders
Pair of bells, ca. 1960.
Lead, glass, and amber.
Measurements: 26 x 12 x 12 cm (x2).
A pair of decorative bells whose design perfectly encapsulates the aesthetic language developed by Felipe Derflingher. Crafted from lead and textured glass panels in warm amber tones, the pieces combine the traditional craftsmanship of leaded glass with a Brutalist-inspired aesthetic. Their meticulous geometry and the attractive play of light produced by the colored glass make these bells a decorative ensemble that helped establish Mexican design among the most innovative of its time.
Felipe Derflingher was a third-generation Mexican designer and master glassmaker, born into a family of German origin settled in Mexico City. In the 1980s, he helped raise the international profile of Mexican craftsmanship by participating in fairs and exhibitions in the United States, Europe, and Canada, where he promoted a fresh image of Mexican design, moving away from traditional stereotypes. As president of a Mexican exporters’ club, he helped raise the profile of the work produced by numerous family-run workshops across the country. Felipe Derflingher’s work was closely linked to Feders, a Mexican firm dedicated to the design and manufacture of high-quality furniture and decorative objects. Through this collaboration, he developed pieces that combined blown glass with metal structures and other materials, giving rise to a modernist and sculptural design language that gained widespread international recognition.