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Brilliant craftsmanship. Bossard Goldsmiths Lucerne

National Museum Zurich | 19.7.2024 - 6.4.2025
published on 17.7.2024

Atelier Bossard was one of Switzerland’s most renowned goldsmith’s workshops in the 19th century. Splendid trophies, silverware and jewellery were produced for buyers from all over the world under the leadership of company founder Johann Karl Bossard. The exhibition in the National Museum Zurich revives the former brilliance of the Lucerne family company.

Johann Karl Bossard (1846-1914) learned his trade as a goldsmith in his father’s workshop at Hirschenplatz in Lucerne. After spending some years completing his apprenticeship and travelling, which brought him to the US, he took over his father’s workshop and made it into an international name of outstanding repute.

Lucerne and Lake Lucerne have always been a tourist magnet. It is therefore no surprise that Bossard’s clientele included self-made industrialists as well as old European nobility. A visit to Bossard’s and the purchase of a prestige item were once de rigueur. Churches, guilds and associations also placed regular orders there.

Craftsmanship experienced a renaissance in the 19th century as people pushed back against industrial mass production. Atelier Bossard’s up to 20 specialised staff not only developed their own designs, they also crafted exact copies of historical objects from the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Their range was replete with glittering pieces: trophies and centrepieces, jewellery, silver cutlery and splendid Swiss daggers.

One of the workshop’s most unusual creations was a monumental showpiece lit from within made for John Wanamaker (1838-1922), founder and innovative manager of large-scale warehouses in Philadelphia and New York. It displays the five towers from Lucerne’s fortifications and the town hall tower in the form of a castle.

Johann Karl Bossard added antique trading as a second pillar to his business in the 1880s. He set up premises in Lucerne’s old town with rooms decorated in different period styles. Bossard also recreated these “historic” interiors for his clients.

The contents of the goldsmith’s workshop, the thousands of designs, models, prints and historical photos were added to the collection at the Swiss National Museum in 2013 and documented in an extensive publication. A selection of this work is now being exhibited for the first time in the National Museum Zurich’s Hall of Fame from 19 July 2024 to 6 April 2025.

Documents

Images

Portrait of Johann Karl Bossard | © Swiss National Museum
Portrait of Johann Karl Bossard

Johann Karl Bossard is portrayed as a proud man on his portrait, painted by Jean Syndon Faurie in 1909. The painting, of which there are several copies, adorned the shop beside certificates and diplomas.

Swiss National Museum

The silversmith at Schwanenplatz | © Swiss National Museum
The silversmith at Schwanenplatz

Some of the employees at the silversmith were Joseph Scherer (front left) and Wettstein (standing), workshop boss Friedrich Vogelsanger (standing at the back) as well as the young silversmith Horn (front right), circa 1905.

Swiss National Museum

Swiss Confederates’ cup | © Swiss National Museum
Swiss Confederates’ cup

Bossard’s major independent creation of 1893 in the form of an impressive Baroque goblet presents the national founding myths of Switzerland. The three figures on the stem represent the Rütli Oath, the foot tells the story of William Tell and the lid shows the battle of Sempach. He combined the different historical and engraver’s models masterfully.

Swiss National Museum

A fortress as a table centrepiece | © Swiss National Museum
A fortress as a table centrepiece

Five towers of Lucerne city’s fortifications and the town hall tower in the form of a castle. This piece was made in 1910 for John Wanamaker (1838–1922), founder and innovative manager of large-scale warehouses in Philadelphia and New York.

Swiss National Museum

Nautilus Goblet as a source of inspiration | © Swiss National Museum
Nautilus Goblet as a source of inspiration

Ink and watercolour drawing of St. Gallen goldsmith Zacharias Müller’s Nautilus Goblet from Beromünster made in 1662. Louis Weingartner, circa 1890.

Swiss National Museum

Nautilus Goblet | © Swiss National Museum
Nautilus Goblet

A goldsmith’s drawing from the 16th century was used as the template for this collector’s piece produced in Atelier Bossard circa 1895-1900.

Swiss National Museum

Serving cutlery | © Swiss National Museum
Serving cutlery

Original models by Zurich goldsmith Hans Peter Oeri from the 17th century were used to make the handles of this silver cutlery for Basel Colonel Rudolf Merian in 1883/84.

Swiss National Museum

A tea and coffee set for a wedding | © Swiss National Museum
A tea and coffee set for a wedding

In 1899, Johann Karl Bossard gifted this silver tea and coffee set to his daughter Maria Karoline (1872–1938) on her marriage to Josef Zemp (1869–1942), who later became deputy director of the National Museum.

Swiss National Museum

Swiss dagger | © Swiss National Museum
Swiss dagger

Bossard copied many historical Swiss dagger sheaths, which are popular with collectors, and combined them with newly made daggers and silverware. This gold-plated brass hilt from 1880/90 depicts the death of Virginia as told by Livy.

Swiss National Museum

© National Museum

View of the exhibition

National Museum

© National Museum

View of the exhibition

National Museum

© National Museum

View of the exhibition

National Museum

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