ART NOUVEAU from Nuremberg - Crafts between Art and Industrial Culture

by Claus Pese

This book provides the first comprehensive overview of the development of Art Nouveau around 1900 in Bavaria's leading industrial city. More than two hundred and fifty objects from all areas of the decorative and applied arts illustrate the internationally significant range of Nuremberg Art Nouveau.

Nuremberg Art Nouveau used a broad variety of materials and its decoration is richly diverse. The focus was on metalworking, yet in addition to cast pewter, bronze, chased copper and silver, there was ivory and wood carving. Jewellery, textiles and ceramics complete the picture. What were known as ‘art faiences’ produced by the firm of Johann von Schwarz are among the best of the fine Art Nouveau ceramics made in Germany. Five introductory chapters analyse the conditions under which the new stylistic movement emerged. It turns out that influences from abroad were just as important as the ‘typically German’ organisation of the apprenticeship system. Opening up markets for Nuremberg Art Nouveau abroad also promoted the influence of international design, especially from Great Britain, on Nuremberg Art Nouveau. Eighteen comprehensive firm monographs reveal the product diversity of Nuremberg Art Nouveau. Moreover, objects by many internationally renowned designers – pieces coveted by collectors and museums worldwide – are published for the first time – an absolute must for all lovers of Art Nouveau!

The most important designers (a selection): Friedrich Adler Peter Behrens Rudolf Bosselt Hans Christiansen James Couper Hermann Friling Hermann Gradl Paul Haustein Josef Hoffmann George Logan Johann Lötz Witwe Carl Sigmund Luber Joseph Maria Olbrich Bruno Paul Richard Riemerschmid Josef Wackerle Vilmos Zsolnay Workshops: Gebr. Bing AG Brand & Stauch Felsenstein & Mainzer J. F. P. Hausleiter Franz Kainzinger Emil Kellermann Hans Knorr Daniel Meinecke Friedrich Müller Valentin Oeckler Walter Scherf & Co. Georg Friedrich Schmitt Christian Schönamsgruber J. von Schwarz Ferdinand Semmelroth Erhard Topf Emma Volck J. C. Wich

312 pages, 24 x 30.5 cm, 290 colour illustrations, 360 black and white illustrations. Hardcover with dust jacket. Text in German.