Vintage Buenilum Serving Tray

The Buenilum Aluminum company was founded as Buehner-Wanner by metalsmith and industrial designer Frederick Buehner and his business partner, Franz Wanner, in Norwalk, Conn. in 1944. Buehner emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1929. He developed a unique formula for using hammered aluminum, which he trademarked in 1933 as Buenilum, a cross between Buehner and aluminum. The Buehner-Wanner company produced Buenilum pieces throughout the 1930s, ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, making mid-century modern decorative, kitchenware and food service items such as serving trays, lazy Susans, relish dishes, bowls, pots and pans. The company was sold to the Pfaltzgraff company in 1969, which continued to make Buenilum pieces until closing the line in 1979.