1960s Friedrich Becker Mid-Century Modernist Moonstone White Gold Ring

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1960s Friedrich Becker Mid-Century Modernist Moonstone White Gold Ring

About the Item

1960s Friedrich Becker MidCentury Modernist Moonstone White Gold Ring 18k white gold, moonstone Ring size: Ø 15.1 mm = EU 47.4 / US 4.25 / ASIA 8.5 Weight approx. 15.7 grams Marks: maker’s mark, gold content mark ‘750’ for 18k gold Germany, 1960s Characteristic for the jewellery of Friedrich Becker (1922 – 1997), goldsmith, craftsman, sculptor, inventor and engineer, mainly known for his kinetic jewellery, sculptures and objects, is the utmost precision with which each piece is executed. This moonstone ring, an early work by Becker from the 1960s is no exception: the mirror finished white gold forms an interesting contrast to the subtly irregular shape of the highly transparent Ceylonese moonstone cabochons of approx. 11.9 carats (14 mm by 11.75 mm by 10.47 mm) with a fine blue adularescence or sheen. Bare of any superfluous adornments the ring emphasizes on its construction, not intending to be an ornament by itself, but becoming an adornment when worn. “When he was awarded the Ehrenring (Ring of Honour) of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Goldschmiedekunst (German Company of Goldsmiths) in Hanau Castle in 1972, Friedrich Becker, just 50 years old, was universally acknowledged as one of the greatest goldsmiths of his time. True to tradition he was elected by former, but still living, Ehrenringholders such as Franz Rickert, Elisabeth Treskow, Sigurd Persson, Max Fröhlich and Hermann Jünger. With him a gold and silversmith became a leading figure who not only introduced new forms to the art of jewellery-making but also the use of stainless steel and synthetic gems, as well as adding a kinetic element to jewellery.” (Becker, Hildegard (ed.): Friedrich Becker. Schmuck. Kinetik. Objekte. // Friedrich Becker. Jewellery. Kinetic. Objects. Stuttgart 1997, p. 14) Biography Friedrich Becker (1922 – 1997) born 25th May 1922 in Ende near Hagen, Germany 1936 – 1939 Apprenticeship as an engine fitter in Düsseldorf 1940 – 1942 Studies at the School for Aeronautical Engineering in Thorn/Weichsel 1946 – 1948 Apprenticeship as a gold- and silversmith in Iserlohn 1948 – 1951 Studies and graduation at the Werkkunstschule Düsseldorf 1952 Qualifies as a master goldsmith opens his own workshop in Düsseldorf becomes assistant to Professor Karl Schollmayer at the Werkkunstschule Düsseldorf marries Hildegard Kückelmann 1964 Head of the Department of Metalwork (gold and silver) at the Werkkunstschule Düsseldorf 1973 Appointed professor at the Fachhochschule Düsseldorf (University of Applied Sciences Dusseldorf) 1982 Retirement from his professorship 1997 Friedrich Becker dies in Düsseldorf 1999 The Friedrich Becker Prize is awarded for the first time Selected Exhibitions: 1951 Deutscher Goldschmiede-Kongress, Düsseldorf 1960 ‘Altes und neues Handwerk’, Cologne 1961 ‘International Exhibition of Modern Jewellery, 1890 – 1961’, Goldsmiths’ Hall, London 1962 ‘Deutsches Kunsthandwerk’, Cologne, Ostend 1964 Werkbund Exhibition, Berlin 1965 ‘The Art of Personal Adornment’, Museum of Contemporary Crafts, New York 1966 Goldsmiths’ Hall, London (solo exhibition) 1967 EXPO, Montreal 1968 International Bijouterie Exhibition, Jablonec 1971 ‘Gold + Silber, Schmuck + Gerät von Albrecht Dürer bis zur Gegenwart’, Nuremberg 1972 ‚Sieraad 1900 – 1972 – Eerste Triennale‘, Amersfoort 1972 ‘Friedrich Becker, Schmuck und Kinetische Objekte’, Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus, Hanau (solo exhibition) 1975 ‘500 Years of Jewellery’, Tokyo 1980 ‘Friedrich Becker – Schmuck und Kinetik’, Galerie am Graben, Vienna (solo exhibition) 1993 ‚Friedrich Becker, Bruno Martinazzi, Hermann Jünger‘, Electrum Gallery, London Selected Honours and Awards: 1959 Bavarian State Prize, Munich 1960 First prize in the international competition ‘The silver candlestick’ 1965 State Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf 1969 Second prize in the international competition ‘The golden bracelet’, Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim 1970 First prize in the competition ‘Prix Jeunesse International’, Munich 1971 Honorary Member of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, London 1972 Awarded the Ring of Honour of the German Association for Goldsmiths’ Art, Hamburg (today Hanau) 1973 Awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Grand Cross 1st class) 1987 Deutscher Schmuck- und Edelsteinpreis, Idar-Oberstein 1990 Honorary Member of ‘Forum für Schmuck und Design’, Cologne 1997 Chosen to receive an Honorary Doctorate, Royal College of Art, London Works in Public and Private Collections (selection): Kunstgewerbemuseum SMPK (Museum of Applied Arts) , Berlin Kunstmuseum Düsseldorf Museum für Angewandte Kunst (Museum of Decorative Arts), Köln Museum für Kunsthandwerk (Museum of Applied Arts), Frankfurt a. M. Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe (Museum of Art and Industrial Arts), Hamburg Kestner Museum, Hannover Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus, Hanau Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim Neue Sammlung des Staatlichen Museum für Angewandte Kunst München, Munich Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, London Victoria & Albert Museum, London The Montreal Museum of Decorative Arts, Montreal MAK – Österreichisches Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Vienna Danner Stiftung, Munich Collection Boulen, Amsterdam Collection Inge Asenbaum, Vienna Collection Mikimoto, Tokyo For further information on Friedrich Becker we recommend: Becker, Hildegard (ed.): Friedrich Becker. Schmuck. Kinetik. Objekte. // Friedrich Becker. Jewellery. Kinetic. Objects. Stuttgart 1997.

Creator:
Friedrich Becker
Metal:
18k Gold
Stone:
Moonstone
Stone Cut:
Oval Cut
Style:
Modernist
Place of Origin:
Germany
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1960s
Condition:
Seller Location:
Dusseldorf, DE
Reference Number:
Seller: RGG004651stDibs: LU50034384071