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Bossard made the centerpiece with five Lucerne towers for John Wanamaker. The American had become rich as a department store and advertising pioneer.
Image: Keystone
The National Museum Zurich is dedicating an exhibition to the Lucerne goldsmiths Bossard. This was one of the most renowned workshops in Switzerland in the 19th century and was an attraction in the tourist town of Lucerne.
The products made by the goldsmiths included goblets, silverware and jewelry, as the National Museum announced on Wednesday. One of the most unusual creations was a centerpiece with five towers of Lucerne's city fortifications. It was made in 1910 for the American merchant John Wanamaker.
Bossard's clientele included not only wealthy entrepreneurs, but also the old European aristocracy who traveled to Lucerne. According to the National Museum, a visit to Bossard and the purchase of a prestigious object were part of good manners. Churches, guilds and associations were also customers of Bossard.
The atelier became an internationally renowned company under Johann Karl Bossard. Bossard lived from 1846 to 1914 and learned the trade in his father's workshop, which was located on Hirschenplatz.
The atelier benefited from the fact that craftsmanship was experiencing a renaissance in response to industrialization and the associated custom production. Bossard employed up to 20 specialists, who not only designed and produced new objects, but also made copies of historical objects.
The goldsmith's estate was donated to the Swiss National Museum, which includes the National Museum Zurich, in 2013. It includes thousands of drawings, models, patterns and photos. The estate has been compiled in a publication. A selection will be exhibited at the National Museum in Zurich from July 19, 2024 to April 6, 2025.
17.07.2024, 11:10
