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book (design) story #196

(unknown) :
schweizer warenkatalog 1949

schweizerischer werkbund swb, zürich, 1949
printer: ösch, vogt & co., bern
size: 30 x 21 cm
designer: richard paul lohse

here we have another product catalogue from the 1940s, issued by schweizerischer werkbund (swb). it's goal according to the preface: to give advice to young married couples and other people who are about to buy furnishings. the swb promoted high-quality products that last a long time and are flexible enough to still fit after changing appartments.

richard paul lohse (1902-1988) designed the catalogue. the cover's grid-based rectangular construction is reminiscent of lohse's paintings of the period.

the cover design is repeated on the back with inverted colours. the cover's grid pattern also indicates the layout grid of the inner pages – similar to book 155.

below a page about the "wohnbedarf" shop featuring furniture designed by alvar aalto and hans bellmann.

international watch co. (iwc), based in schaffhausen, is the only representative of the famous swiss watch industry in the catalogue.

on the last page the company schwitter a.-g. (also see the ad in book 194) demonstrates the production of photographic printing plates – a complicated and expensive process in those days.