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Key visual from the exhibition Brilliant craftsmanship. Bossard Goldsmiths Lucerne

Brilliant craftsmanship

Bossard Goldsmiths Lucerne

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Exhibition

Atelier Bossard in Lucerne was one of Switzerland’s most renowned goldsmith’s workshops in the 19th century. Splendid trophies, silverware and jewellery were produced under the leadership of company founder Johann Karl Bossard (1846-1914). The staff not only created their own designs but also crafted exact copies of historical objects from the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Craftsmanship had recovered its appeal as people pushed back against industrial mass production. A visit to Bossard’s and the purchase of a prestige item were de rigueur for wealthy noble families and rich industrialists in the booming tourist city of Lucerne. In 2013, the contents of the goldsmith’s workshop were added to the collection at the Swiss National Museum. The exhibition in the National Museum Zurich’s Hall of Fame displays designs, models and historical photos in addition to the workshop’s most beautiful pieces, reviving Bossard’s former brilliance.

Guided tours

Sa 22.2.2025

13:30 – 14:30 Uhr

Guided tour

Brilliant craftsmanship

To the agenda
Key visual from the exhibition Brilliant craftsmanship. Bossard Goldsmiths Lucerne

Brilliant craftsmanship

Guided tour for private groups

Guided tour of the exhibition "Brilliant craftsmanship. Bossard Goldsmiths Lucerne".

Tour: 1 hour

Guided tours can be arranged outside opening hours: Mon between 9.30 am and 6 pm, Tue to Fri between 9.30 am and 7.45 pm. Sat and Sun between 10 am and 5 pm

Registration:  

 2 weeks in advance

Duration:

  

60 minutes; special packages can be offered on request

Group size:

  

max. 25 participants per tour

Languages:

  

English, German, Italian, French. Other offers upon request.

Cost:


 

  

CHF 180 for the guided tour + CHF 10 admission per person

Children up to 16 years free.

For groups of people with permit N, S, B, F (refugee) or F (foreigner), the guided tour and admission are free of charge.

accessibility.sr-only.person_card_info Reservations desk

National Museum Zurich
+41 44 218 66 00 reservationen@nationalmuseum.ch

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Schools

Brilliant craftsmanship – Introductory tour

Secondary level I and II

Guided tour of the exhibition «Brilliant craftsmanship. Bossard Goldsmiths Lucerne».

1 hour
Guided tours are free of charge for school classes from Switzerland.

Guided tours in English can be arranged, even outside opening hours. Guided tours are free of charge for school classes from Switzerland.

Booking:  

at least 2 weeks in advance

Duration:

  

1 hour guided tours, other services by prior arrangement

Group size:

  

max. 25 people

Cost:
 

  

Guided tours for school classes from Switzerland are free of charge.

accessibility.sr-only.person_card_info Reservations desk

National Museum Zurich
+41 44 218 66 00 reservationen@nationalmuseum.ch

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Blog articles

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Christian Hörack

21. October 2020

A royal cup from the 16th century grabbed the world’s attention before, and again after, industrialisation.

A tour of Lucerne reveals the spirit of the Belle Epoque

Kurt Messmer

12. March 2024

Swiss cities such as Lucerne experienced an epochal transformation around 1900. Its medieval centre was expanded to include prestigious residential and commercial buildings, stations, postal and administrative offices, school buildings, hotels and villas. However, architecturally this modernisation bore the hallmarks of the past. Time for a virtual tour of Lucerne.

Zeitgeist, 1907 geschaffen von Richard Kissling für den Torbogen des 1896 erbauten Luzerner Bahnhofs
All blog posts

Media

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

Please note that the downloading and use of images is reserved exclusively for journalists, teachers and other authorised parties. Images are only permitted to be used for the purposes of reporting on exhibitions, provided the captions and reference to copyright are included, or for teaching purposes. Many thanks!

National Museum Zurich press contact

National Museum Zurich
+41 44 218 65 64 medien@nationalmuseum.ch

Exhibition imprint

  • Overall management Denise Tonella
  • Project direction Christian Weiss, Christian Hörack
  • Curators and Concept Christian Hörack, Christian Weiss
  • Scenography Bureau Hindermann GmbH, Zürich: Christine Grauer, Christof Hindermann, Tobias Maurer
  • Exhibition graphic Herendi Artemisio GmbH, Zürich: Tiziana Artemisio, Milana Herendi, Anna Deér
  • Project support Heidi Amrein, Luca Tori
  • Advisory committee Günhan Akarçay, Heidi Amrein, Beat Högger, Markus Leuthard, Sabrina Médioni, Denise Tonella
  • Project controlling Sabrina Médioni
  • Cultural services and museum education Lisa Engi, Vera Humbel, Jörg Ramel
  • Technical management Debbie Sledsens
  • Exhibition construction Marc Hägeli, Dave Schwitter, Philippe Leuthardt, Ira Allemann, Sophie Lühr, Ian Hügi
  • Conservation management  Sarah Longrée, Charlotte Maier
  • Conservation and mounting of objects Natalie Ellwanger, Iona Leroy, Sarah Longrée, Charlotte Maier, Jürg Mathys, Gaby Petrak, Ulrike Rothenhäusler, Tino Zagermann
  • Loans and object logistics Christian Affentranger, David Blazquez, Simon d’Hollosy, Reto Hegetschweiler, Laura Mosimann, Aymeric Nager, Claudio Stefanutto, Samira Tanner
  • Photography Jörg Brandt, Felix Jungo
  • Picture library Remo Sidler, Fabian Müller, Andrea Kunz
  • IT | Web  Alex Baur, Danilo Rüttimann, Thomas Bucher
  • Media stations Alex Baur, Thomas Bucher, Pasquale Pollastro
  • Marketing and Communication Andrej Abplanalp, Anna-Britta Maag, Sebastiano Mereu, Carole Neuenschwander, Alexander Rechsteiner
  • Advertising graphic Resort GmbH für Visuelle Kommunikation, Zürich
  • Translations Nigel Stephenson, Laurence Neuffer, Noè Bizzozero, Language Factory

Items generously loaned by

  • Bistum und Stiftsbibliothek St. Gallen
  • Museum Aargau, Lenzburg
  • Museum Kloster Muri, Muri AG
  • PES Collection, Zug
  • Zunft zum Kämbel, Zürich
  • Zunft zum Widder, Zürich
  • Matthias Berger, Zürich
  • Karl Bossard, Horw
  • Andres von Buch, La Barra de Maldonado, Uruguay
  • Christine Lanz, Zürich
  • Charlotte Vonder Mühll, Basel

The Swiss National Museum would like to thank the Willy G. S. Hirzel Foundation for its support.