Berliner Kunst: Sonderausgaben der Berliner Architekturwelt Lechter (III) - Messel (IX) - Moritz (Architektur des XX Jahrhunderts, 7. Sonderheft)
Berlin: Ernst Wasmuth, 1904–1910. First edition. Hardcover. Quarto. 93 (3), xv, 103pp., (1) 61pp. Faux padded parchment with gilt lettering on cover, protected by modern mylar.
1. Melchior Lechter. Frontispiece with tissue guard depicting Lechter's stained glass painting "Die Weihe am mystischen Quell," a work executed for the Pallenberg Saal. Title page in red lettering. Melchior is known for his decorative designs of books, Ex-libris, calendars, catalogs, posters, and stained glass windows. The special issue is lavishly illustrated with numerous in-text and full page b/w and two color illustrations and photographic reproductions showing some of Lechter's best examples of Jugendstil art and design. Contains two color plates, one of them a foldout, in addition to frontispiece. The first a pastel sketch "Fruehlingsabend bei Siena" from 1903, and a pastel draft for three glass paintings in the vestibule of the new Royal Music Academy in Berlin, 1901.
2. Alfred Messel. Missing title page, respectively pages before first (I) page of introduction. Messel was a German architect known for his work bridging the transition from historicism to modernism. He is best known for two works, the Wertheim department store and the Pergamon Museum in Berlin representing a new concept of cosmopolitan architecture. The issue is profusely illustrated with b/w reproductions of photographs of Messel's work as well as architectural plans.
3. Carl Moritz. Color frontispiece of the parish church St. Nikolaus in Essen, Germany. Illustrated title page. Moritz is known for a variety of architectural building. A large part of his work was the design of bank buildings, about 40 of them over the course of his career. However, his specialties were the design theaters, convents and churches for which he became a sought-after architect, e.g. the Cologne opera house in 1902, in Wuppertal in 1905, and the St. Joseph Church in Bielefeldt in 1910 (color plate). Illustrated throughout with b/w photographs, architectural drawings and plans.
Text in German. Binding with light wear and rubbed along edges. Light age toning along edges and sporadic, minor foxing. Binding and interior in overall very good condition. vg. Item #42178
Price: $750.00