Cornelie Holzach (ed.)

This publication is yet another fine work published by Arnoldsche Art Publishers.  It is printed in both German and English.  The book contains a very beautiful collection of jewellery and accessories.  It has a small collection of German metal art.  The items come primarily from French and German collections.

The 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs and Industriels marked the establishment of the “new style” which became known as Art Deco. During this time accessories became jewellery-like – for example, cigarette holders, evening bags and little containers for lipstick and powder.  There was an overriding desire for luxury during this period of time.

In Germany, an Avant-garde style – New Objectivity emerged.  It adapted new trends in modern art and translated them into jewellery and metal vessels.

This publication shows how wide the range of influence was- from fine jewellery to mass-produced costume jewellery, luxury accessories and works of silver.  It also has an interesting discussion of the fashion of the day.

Highly recommended!

By Herb Millman & John Dwyer

Schiffer Publishing Ltd.

Copyright 2001

This book is an excellent resource for those interested in art deco lighting made in America and Europe.  It contains excellent photographs of accent and figural radio lamps, table lamps, wall and overhead lighting, smoking stands and ashtray lamps and floor lighting.  It includes a brief description of each item as well as a price range the authors would use in pricing the articles in their shop. 

Herb Millman and John Dwyer own Cockamamie’s, an award-winning art deco shop located in New Hope, Pennsylvania.  They opened their shop in 1996.  They have been collecting art deco items for more than twenty years.  Their backgrounds were a natural for them to gravitate toward the deco style.  Herb was involved in the motion picture industry and John acted off Broadway and regionally.

Their book invites one to visit their shop in Pennsylvania.

Bengel Art Deco Schmuck German

Bengel Art Deco Jewellery

Editor and Project Leader – Wilhelm Lindemann

Arnoldsche Art Publishers

Made in Germany 2007

The firm of Jacob Bengal Watch-chain and Bijouterie Wares Factory was founded in 1873 and was changed to a pubic foundation in 2001/2002.  In 1985 two jewelry collectors came across jewelry in the art deco style but of unknown origin at a London antique fair.  They suspected it might be of German origin and research confirmed that.  The factory was located in Idor-Oberstein and heirs were found.  The factory was found in good condition.  The authors devote time to describing the operations of the factory and its role in Germany and Europe. 

The factory building became a publicly endowed foundation in late 2001.  The foundation charter defines the objectives as preservation of the firm and family history as well as industrial history of the city of Idor-Oberstein. 

The Jacob Bengel Watch-chain and Bijouterie Wares Factory is now a tourist attraction for the city of Idor-Oberstein.  Guided tours show large parts of the factory and exhibitions as well as the ground floor of the villa. 

The book is an excellent resource for those interested in art deco in Germany as well as a very special history of the Bengel Factory.  It contains excellent photographs including jewelry, sample books, site plans and photos. 

Goldscheider:History of the Company and Catalogue of Works

Arnoldsche Art Publishers

The Viennese Manufactory Friedrich Goldscheider was founded in 1858.  It soon became the leader in European ceramics production.  Figures and vessels were made of faience, terracotta, bronze and alabaster.  They were made to the highest standards of workmanship and artistry.  Their work covered the periods of Historism, Art Nouveau and Art Deco. They collaborated with many distinguished sculptors and ceramicists of the times.  

The book provides in great detail the history of the company including the impact of World War II on the Jews.  The family left Germany during that war and set up manufactory plants elsewhere.  On October 1994, the company was registered in Vienna.  It was too costly to continue to manufacture ceramics of the past but the company did continue to produce urns. 

The book also contains a very extensive Catalogue of Works and a List of Artists.  Both of these are in German.  The history of the company is both in English and German.

Today Goldscheider ceramics are sought after by collectors worldwide.  This book would be an exceptional resource for for historians and collectors.

Carlo Burschel and Heinz Scheiffele

Arnoldsche Art Publishers – Germany 2006

This volume is the second of four NKA catalogues. This one devoted to Ikora Metal 1 and is drawn from the 1920’s to the 1930’s.   The NKA items are produced by WMF AG.  This volume contemplates some of the following: Hiatus Vs synchronicity in modern industrial design, industrial design without industry, and the gap between crafts and industrial design.  

The artists and designers for NKA at WMF AG are identified and several are described.  WMF AG was at its height in the 1920’s to the 1930’s and was impacted by World War II when it was restructured as an armaments producer.

This volume describes the technical basis and background of the Ikora Noble metals collection.  It also provides an extensive catalogue of Ikora Metal articles from the years 1928 to 1939/40.

This volume is complex and comprehensive and would be very useful study of industrial design.  It is very useful for the study of one of the producers of German metalwork.

WMF Ikora und Myra Glaser Germany

WMF Ikora and Myra Glass –

One-of-a-kind- and mass-produced art glass from the 1920’s to the 1950’s Vol. 1

Carlo Burschel and Heinz Scheiffele

Arnoldsche Art Publishers – Germany 2003

This volume is one of four NKA catalogues, this one being devoted to Ikora and Myra glass made by WMF Glassworks.  It shows samples and one-off pieces but is focused on mass-produced pieces from the 1920’s to the 1950’s.  The Ikora and Myra Glass occupy an important position in the history of German glass in the first half of the 20^th century.  The glass factory closed in 1982.

The technical background of Myra and Ikora Glass made by WMF is explained.  Karl Wiedmann, the head of WMF experimented and developed colored selenium glasses.

This volume contains an extensive catalogue of Myra and Ikora Glass including reproduction of WMF sales catalogues and advertisements.  This is a very useful volume for the study of one of the producers of German glass. 

Zeitgeist – A Century of Idar-Oberstein Costume Jewellery

Wilhelm Lindemann (ed.) and Anne-Barbara Knerr

Arnoldsche Art Publishers – Germany -  2009

The book is written in both German and English.  It is divided into two major sections.   The first section describes the history of  Idar-Oberstein jewellery. The second section  describes Company Histories. This included such firms as Jakob Bengal, Friedrich Casper, Walter Fischer and Louis Gottlieb & Sohne.

Idar-Oberstein jewellery can be divided into four  periods: from about 1870 to the First World War, the Art Deco period between the two World Wars, the 1950’s and finally the 1960’s and 1970’s. Prior to the First World War there was a strong market for watch chain.  The wristwatch market emerged during the First World War so there was a change in production.  Factories had to switch to other product lines and a larger share of production was taken by costume jewellery.

The authors have taken great care to preserve the history of Idar-Oberstein German costume jewellery. The text is very good reading has a very good selection of photographs.