In 2013, the Swiss National Museum was able to acquire the near to complete studio estate of Bossard Goldsmiths in Lucerne. In its heyday and under the guidance of Johann Karl Bossard (1846 – 1914), it was the most renowned gold and silversmith studio in Switzerland. The estate comprises several thousands of drawings, casting models, templates used in the studio, in photographs and in books. The processing of this vast studio estate included the sorting, cleaning, registering, photographing, and inventorying of all objects.

A team of experts analysed the substantial holdings, taking into account also an earlier, unpublished study on Bossard. Apart from the classical goldsmith works, the team was also able to explore other aspects, such as the production of jewellery, cutlery, weapons, as well as assignments for the Church. The research also revealed new insights as to Bossard’s working methods as well as to his international network of consultants and clients.

Publication in the National Museum Zurich webshop

Publication at arnoldsche Verlagsanstalt

Project participants

• Dr Christian Hörack, Swiss National Museum
• Dr Hanspeter Lanz, Swiss National Museum
• Dr Eva-Maria Preiswerk-Lösel, art historian, Zurich
• Jürg A. Meier, historian, Zurich
• Dr Beatriz Chadour-Sampson, jewellery historian, London (UK)