Brooch
1970
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Gerhard (Gerd) Rothmann, who was born in 1941, studied at the Staatlichen Zeichenakademie in Hanau. Rothmann, alongside his contemporaries Claus Bury and Fritz Maierhofer was part of the 1971 inaugural exhibition at the Electrum Gallery, London. All three broke with convention by combining a non-precious material, such as acrylic, with gold and were shown in Electrum's 1972 exhibition Objects and Acrylic Jewellery. He was one of a small group of pioneering artist-craftsmen who promoted the use of acrylic in jewellery in the early 1970s. This material complemented his enthusiasm for the bright colours and imagery of Pop Art.
Rothmann described London in the 1970s as being a place where 'all hierarchical and social structures were being questioned'. In his work 'it was the search for new materials and multiple systems with interchangeable components which was vital'. His jewellery was in tune with the youthful fashions of the 1970s and the low cost of the materials made it accessible.
Rothmann described London in the 1970s as being a place where 'all hierarchical and social structures were being questioned'. In his work 'it was the search for new materials and multiple systems with interchangeable components which was vital'. His jewellery was in tune with the youthful fashions of the 1970s and the low cost of the materials made it accessible.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Steel and acylic |
| Brief description | Steel and acrylic brooch decorated with a butterfly, by Gerd Rothmann. Germany, 1970. |
| Physical description | Square brooch with cut corners; decorated with a steel butterfly in pierced work, pinned to transparent pink acrylic over a pink and white diagonally striped background. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | small batch |
| Marks and inscriptions | Rothmann 70 (Signature of maker and year of work. ) |
| Summary | Gerhard (Gerd) Rothmann, who was born in 1941, studied at the Staatlichen Zeichenakademie in Hanau. Rothmann, alongside his contemporaries Claus Bury and Fritz Maierhofer was part of the 1971 inaugural exhibition at the Electrum Gallery, London. All three broke with convention by combining a non-precious material, such as acrylic, with gold and were shown in Electrum's 1972 exhibition Objects and Acrylic Jewellery. He was one of a small group of pioneering artist-craftsmen who promoted the use of acrylic in jewellery in the early 1970s. This material complemented his enthusiasm for the bright colours and imagery of Pop Art. Rothmann described London in the 1970s as being a place where 'all hierarchical and social structures were being questioned'. In his work 'it was the search for new materials and multiple systems with interchangeable components which was vital'. His jewellery was in tune with the youthful fashions of the 1970s and the low cost of the materials made it accessible. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.31-1990 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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