In the 1950s, West Germany experienced an impressive economic upswing. The “economic miracle” was characterized by income growth across class lines and a plentiful supply of consumer goods. As a result, changes emerged in the domestic sphere. Modern gas heating replaced labor intensive coal- and wood-burning stoves. Furniture design was modern, spare and functional – the so-called kidney table became a symbol of home décor in the 1950s. (Its name derived from its asymmetrical organic form.) Likewise, simple armchairs, un-embellished flower vases, and small table lamps represented a departure from the style of the pre-war years.