Der Decor: Zierungen für's Kunstgewerbe. 1. Serie. 48 künstlerische Facsimile Aquarelle
[Wien/Leipzig]; Barcelona: [Fr. Wolfrum & Co. Wien/Leipzig]; Obras cientificas y artisticas Sucesor de J. M. Fabre, ND [ca 1905-1910]. First edition. Hardcover. Folio (19 x 14 3/4"). [1] leaf (Title), [48] loose leaves (Plates), as issued. Original 3/4 olive cloth over printed paper covered portfolio. String ties.
This early 20th century Viennese Art Nouveau portfolio is complete with its 48 color plates splendidly reproduced in offset, and which are facsimiles of original watercolors depicting several designs of the famous Viennese School.
The designs shown are templates for fabric patterns, jewelry, picture frames, furniture, table lamps, glass, vases, door handles and door locks, plates, wallpapers, fireplace mounts, windows, menu cards, book covers, and numerous other ornaments.
The plates are mostly unsigned except for three which are signed by the following Viennese artists: Gottlieb Theodore von Kempf* (Plates 28 and 38), and Raimund Germela** (Plate 32).
Pasted at verso of each plate is a 1 1/2 x 4 1/2" printed label indicating the original publisher (Fr. Wolfrum & Co. in Wien/Leipzig), the title of the portfolio, and the number of the plate. The label is missing at verso of plates Nos. 8, 9, 12, and 23.
Original Art Nouveau watercolor at verso of plate 27 (unsigned). The unsigned watercolor measures 7 x 15 1/2" and depicts a woman in a long purple dress, holding two floral swags with three roses at each extremity. Right behind her is a white, silver and brown ornamental circle. In the background, the sun appears to be setting on hilly shores. The watercolor seems unfinished as the woman's face does not have any features, and the details within the ornamental circle are clearly not defined.
Each color illustration (size slightly varying, but mostly 12 1/2 x 8 1/2") is mounted on a green cardboard (size: 18 1/2 x 14 1/2").
Stamp of the Országos Magyar Királyi Iparmüvészeti Iskola (National Hungarian School of Applied Arts) at lower margin of plates 7, 21, and 32.
Publishing label of "Obras cientificas y artisticas Sucesor de J. M. Fabre in Barcelona" pasted on front cover and title page, thus covering the original publisher (Fr. Wolfrum & Co. in Wien/Leipzig).
Portfolio partly rubbed and stained along edges. Some foxing along edges of leaves (not affecting images). Title in German. Portfolio in overall fair to good-, interior in good to very good, images in very good condition. fair to vg. Item #43332
* Gottlieb Theodor von Kempf (1871-1964) is known as a painter and illustrator. From 1888 to 1896 he studied at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts under Julius Victor Berger, Leopold Karl Müller, Josef Matthias von Trenkwald and August Eisenmenger, making numerous study trips to Rome and Paris. He is best known for his illustrations for the Meggendorfer Blatter and Gerlach’s Allegorien portfolio. He exhibited at the Vienna Künstlerhaus , in the Vienna Secession and in Munich and Dresden. For his artistic work Kempf was awarded the Great Golden Medal of Honor of the Vienna Künstlerhaus, the Master Award of the City of Vienna, the forest Müller Award and the National Award. (From the Vienna Secession Gallery).
** Raimund Germela (1868-1945) studied at the Academy of Arts in Vienna and was a pupil of Leopold Carl Müller and Josef Matyas Trenkwald. He continued his studies in Paris, Munich, England and Italy. In 1898, he settled in Vienna and became a member of the Hagenbund and the Wiener Künstlerhaus. Germela's versatile oeuvre includes interiors, genre paintings and scenes of urban life.
Price: $1,750.00