Die Neue Sammlung - Böcker

Jewellery and object artist Anton Cepka (1936) is one of the most important jewellery artists of the twentieth century and a protagonist of the so-called studio jewellery movement, which arose after the Second World War. Today he is considered the doyen of Slovakian and Czech jewellery designers. Whitened silver, optical glass, stones and modern acrylic glass are Anton Cepka's preferred materials. His jewellery and his objects as he himself says 'bear all the signs of today. At the same time they express the reflection of today's over-engineered world.' Movement and light unexpectedly come into play in these pieces; thus kinetic art enters jewellery art for the first time in a conceptual way. Aerotechnical, fragile futuristic forms, the colour of the whitened silver and titles such as Radar, Antenna, Airplane, Satellite and Planet reflect the current, technological advancement and reference of our times. The execution of the objects bears witness to a great craftsmanship that is essential to Cepka's objects. Text in English and German.

A leading exponent of art jewellery worldwide, Thomas Gentille is one of the leading lights of studio jewellery in the United States. In the late 1950s the American artist was the first to use novel combinations of plastic, aluminium, wood, papier mâché, sawdust, silk, glass balls and air - instead of gold, silver and precious stones. Gentille calls into question the value of precious metals in jewellery and the way they are appraised. He also objects to a chronological approach to his works. His pieces are one-offs, which are often unique in their closeness to sculpture and architecture. A remarkable feature is the 'eggshell' technique Gentille has developed, with which he creates astonishing crackle effects. With more than 180 jewellery objects and drawings, this book represents the first comprehensive retrospective of his life's work.Text in English and German.

Helga Zahn (1936-1985) was one of the leading jewellery artists in Britain during the 1960s and 1970s. The autodidact, who was raised in Schwarzenbach an der Saale, had a preference for silver and natural materials such as pebbles. Her one-off jewellery is made unique by the clarity of simple geometric forms, the lightness and simplicity of the combinations, and a reduced colour palette. With novel systematic thinking, in the mid 1960s she revolutionised the studio jewellery movement that was forming across the globe. With around a hundred jewellery objects, this comprehensive review invites you on a journey of rediscovery and reappraisal of this exceptional artist. Text in English and German.