DOI article:
Kahn, Ely Jacques: America discovers german arts and crafts
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7098#0079
Kunst und Handwerk
A.D. 1851
• These lovely examples
of the goldsmith's art in
this picture and the prev-
ious one are made in
what is called granulation
technic, by which minute
gold globules are used
for the ornamental work.
• This technic was used
by the old Greek gold-
smiths,but the knowledge of
the process had been lost.
• Many goldsmiths at-
tracted by the fascinating
beauty of antique pieces,
which have come down
to us have tried vainly
to discover the secret of
the lost art.
• Great patience and
love for his work led
J. M. Wilm of Munich, who
is the master craftsman
responsible for the design
and execution of the illus-
trated jewelry and bowl,
to solve the riddle.
Phot. Reidt, München
• Granulation Bowl in Gold. Designed and executed by J. M. Wilm, Munich
▼ Goldene Schale mit Granulation, ausgeführt von J. M. Wilm, München
America discovers German Arts and Crafts
(Continued from Page 261
saving grace, however, seems to lie in the direction which
American architecture of to-day has taken. New conditions,
new problems, new materials, have broken the chains, and
Europe is gradually sensing the production of work that can
rest securely on its quality in design as well as in execution.
It is essential to America that the work of European con-
freres be made known to her designers, once she realizes
that the spirit and not the form is all-important. Once this
great principle is clearly established, the more information
can be exchanged, and the better will be the future of her
artists. The craftsmanship of Munich must remain a
guiding star now, as France found it at the beginning
of the Modern movement in 1900. For the artist, the
exchange of ideas, the keen competition of production, is
as vital now as it has always been in history. The tra-
dition of pure imitation is hardly possible when once the
veil has been torn from his eyes. An intelligent public will
back him, provided that his work reflects first, the Solution
of the problems placed before him, and secondly, theappli-
cation of the materials at hand, used simply and honestly.
A Challenge to Handicraft
(Conf/nued from Page 22}
If handicraft is to hold its own in the home it must find a way
to keep in harmony. It must live notonly with modern design,
buth with that particular brand of design that issuesfrom the
machine. If handicraft attemps to imitate machine made pro-
ducts it will be doomed for its insincerity; if it refuses to
capitulate it will be doomed for its conservatism. The problem
for creative hands, therefore, is to find structures and designs
which will be both honest and in step with the new era.
A.D. 1851
• These lovely examples
of the goldsmith's art in
this picture and the prev-
ious one are made in
what is called granulation
technic, by which minute
gold globules are used
for the ornamental work.
• This technic was used
by the old Greek gold-
smiths,but the knowledge of
the process had been lost.
• Many goldsmiths at-
tracted by the fascinating
beauty of antique pieces,
which have come down
to us have tried vainly
to discover the secret of
the lost art.
• Great patience and
love for his work led
J. M. Wilm of Munich, who
is the master craftsman
responsible for the design
and execution of the illus-
trated jewelry and bowl,
to solve the riddle.
Phot. Reidt, München
• Granulation Bowl in Gold. Designed and executed by J. M. Wilm, Munich
▼ Goldene Schale mit Granulation, ausgeführt von J. M. Wilm, München
America discovers German Arts and Crafts
(Continued from Page 261
saving grace, however, seems to lie in the direction which
American architecture of to-day has taken. New conditions,
new problems, new materials, have broken the chains, and
Europe is gradually sensing the production of work that can
rest securely on its quality in design as well as in execution.
It is essential to America that the work of European con-
freres be made known to her designers, once she realizes
that the spirit and not the form is all-important. Once this
great principle is clearly established, the more information
can be exchanged, and the better will be the future of her
artists. The craftsmanship of Munich must remain a
guiding star now, as France found it at the beginning
of the Modern movement in 1900. For the artist, the
exchange of ideas, the keen competition of production, is
as vital now as it has always been in history. The tra-
dition of pure imitation is hardly possible when once the
veil has been torn from his eyes. An intelligent public will
back him, provided that his work reflects first, the Solution
of the problems placed before him, and secondly, theappli-
cation of the materials at hand, used simply and honestly.
A Challenge to Handicraft
(Conf/nued from Page 22}
If handicraft is to hold its own in the home it must find a way
to keep in harmony. It must live notonly with modern design,
buth with that particular brand of design that issuesfrom the
machine. If handicraft attemps to imitate machine made pro-
ducts it will be doomed for its insincerity; if it refuses to
capitulate it will be doomed for its conservatism. The problem
for creative hands, therefore, is to find structures and designs
which will be both honest and in step with the new era.