Der Frauen Rosenhof. I. M. Olbrich.
Berlin: Ernst Wasmuth, 1906 [or 1907]. First edition. In publisher’s stiff paper wrapper portfolio, lettered in black on the front cover. [1] loose leaf (title), 30 plates of photographic reproductions. Old collection stamp and shelfmark on portfolio and title page. 2 plates with a humble note in pencil. The portfolio is restored. The plates are in fine condition, some with collection stamp on lower right corner or on verso.
Extremely scarce and beautiful Art Nouveau portfolio showing Joseph Maria Olbrich’s buildings and designs for the Ladies’ Rose Court in Cologne.
Frauenrosenhof is one of the final works of Joseph Maria Olbrich (1867–1908), the Austrian architect and designer, co-founder of the Vienna Secession. The thirty plates of the portfolio reveal the architectural details of the buildings, the richness and the oriental “luxury" of their interiors, and the details of their ornamental motifs. They also show how the main building and the surrounding garden intermingles into a unity, or the oriental pavilions and terraces facing the small pond. Many of the plates picture individual spectacular decorative objects, also designed by Olbrich, such as a patterned tapestry, table lamp, porcelains, silver- and glassware, furniture and jewelry.
Frauenrosenhof was built in 1905 for the 1906 Deutsche Kunstausstellung at Cologne, and it is the only one still preserved among the Art Nouveau buildings that were erected for the Exhibition. The facility was damaged during the World War and the reconstruction did not fully follow the original plans.
Extremely scarce publication. We could trace only one copy in institutional holdings, in Germany (SBB).
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Price: €15,000.00