Vintage salt or pepper mill by Robert Wilhelm for Raw Design, USA 1996

An early, handmade & painted, signed, Postmodern Robert Wilhelm "Pep Art" Salt or Pepper Mill for Raw Design, Ann Arbor, USA, dating from 1996. Fun, unique and unusual, this very early example of Robert Wilhelm's mills, is in good vintage condition, with some wear commensurate with age and use, but nothing to detract. Signed and dated by the artist, with "RAW DESIGN, ANN ARBOR MI" imprinted on the grinding mechanism on the base. Robert Wilhelm, a graduate in sculpture from the University of Michigan, uses dyes, paints, burning, and carving to add complexity to his designs, adding artful playfulness to his sculptural forms. Wilhelm, who's been doing this for 29 years, says “My work strives to help people recognize the artistic value inherent in ordinary objects typically associated only with a functional purpose. My designs attempt to combine colour, form, pattern, and texture in ways that produce new and unique results.” His objects are either turned on a lathe, cast or spun (if in metal), hand-shaped (as is the case here) and are considered 'functional art pieces'. Reference : 305730