#olbrich

"Buckle" by Patriz Huber for Theodor Fahrner in silver and chalcedonies (circa 1901), "Butterfly Brooch" by Georg Kleemann for Murrie & Bennett in gold, plique-à-jour enamel, opal, rubies and pearls (circa 1902), "Pendant with Chain" by Joseph Maria Olbrich for Theodor Fahrner in silver and chrysopras (circa 1905) and "Brooches" by Murrie Bennett & Co (circa 1900) presented in “A History of Jewellery: Bedazzled (part 6: Art Nouveau 1890-1914)” by Beatriz Chadour-Sampson - International Jewellery Historian and Author - for the V&A Academy online, march 2024.

31/10/24

20/04/25

Some of my photography from my weekend trip to Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin.

Ideen von Olbrich (1904). Found in the Internet Archive by AnitaNH

Those of you who have been to my lectures might recognize this. I like to use it because not only is a great bit of ornament from one of my favorite buildings in a favorite epoch, but it represents the three most impactful Arts - Painting, Architecture, and Sculpture. The widely regarded “gorgon” quality of these allegories further symbolizes the protection of these Arts by reappropriating the shield (and sometimes breastplate) of Athena, the goddess of Wisdom, whose accessories are typically represented with a Gorgon Head - the gaze of which turns all to stone. However, these are more likely Masks, that which protect the wearer and contain identity. These are coupled with the two Ouroboroses (under Painting and Sculpture), which represent the unity of all things, birth and death, and the eternal cyclical nature of the universe. Notably, the third Snake under Architecture is still reaching for its tail. Some seriously cool content packed into a (relatively) small composition - that’s the power of ornament! . . #austria #vienna #wien #secession #viennesesecession #artnouveau #ornament #ornamentaldetail #architecture #architecturaldetail #architecturaldetails #ornamentation #ornamental #details #detail #olbrich #gorgon #gorgonhead #therearemoregorgonsthanmedusa #athena #painting #sculpture (at Secession Building, Vienna) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bren_L5latk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=no127b2wrbr5