wiedler.ch

book (design) story #502

(unknown) :
50 jahre laufener ton-industrie 1892-1942

tonwarenfabrik laufen ag, laufen, 1943
size: 31 x 24 cm
photographer: robert spreng
designer: fritz bühler

originally, dustjackets were used as mere protectors for the beautiful book covers. but in the 1920s they developed into promotional mini-posters for the books which are often more interesting than the simple cover designs. here we have a simple wrapping paper jacket in the original sense, ...

... which protects a white cloth cover with huge slab-serif type ...

... which seems appropriate for an anniversary publication of an industrial company: ...

... the red color of the word "ton" (clay) refers to the business of the swiss company which is still a well-known brand of tiles and ceramic sanitary ware.

the book was designed by fritz bühler (1909-1963), a leading basel-based graphic designer and artist.

several prominent designers made their first steps in bühler's basel-based studio, including armin hofmann and karl gerstner.

the impressive photographs are by robert spreng (1890-1969), a basel-based pioneer of modern photography (see also story 133).