Paul Zimmermann (blacksmith)

Paul Zimmermann

Paul Zimmermann (born January 26, 1939 in Pliezhausen , Baden-Württemberg ) is a German blacksmith and metal sculptor with numerous contemporary works. He is considered one of the first German art blacksmiths for innovative and modern forms in traditional blacksmithing. Zimmermann bears the British title AWCD as the first non-native British blacksmith.

life and career

Sculpture by Paul Zimmermann (1987)

Paul Zimmermann was born in Pliezhausen in the state of Baden-Württemberg in 1939. His parents worked as farmers at the beginning of World War II . Zimmermann began a traditional training as an art fitter in 1953, which ended in 1956. After his training, he won an award for gifted students and also worked in Switzerland for some time . Among other things, he was a student of Hajo Pentecost. From 1962 to 1963 he attended the Luisenschule in Munich. During this time he also taught there at the Vocational Education Institute. In 1963 he passed the master craftsman examination at the Munich Chamber of Crafts.

In 1963 Paul Zimmermann founded his own workshop as Atelier Zimmermann in Pliezhausen. During his active working hours, he also gave lectures at several renowned international blacksmith meetings.

Zimmermann won several national and international awards. His work has been shown at exhibitions in Germany , England , Finland , France , Italy , Switzerland , Spain , Slovenia , Russia , USA and Canada . (English)

Paul Zimmermann's work is on permanent display in the Würth Museum in Künzelsau , in the National Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis and in the Museum for Sepulchral Culture in Kassel .

Works

Death board by Paul Zimmermann

At the beginning of his career, Paul Zimmermann concentrated on architectural blacksmithing. But Zimmermann soon recognized the innovative need to incorporate contemporary design into traditional craftsmanship in order to keep this art form alive in the future. He often describes the philosophy of his design with the sentence: form is limitation - design is disclosure ( shape is limitation - design is disclosure ). Today Zimmermann is best known for his sculptural grave marks.

Paul Zimmermann is still active after his retirement. Many apprentices and interns from New Zealand , Japan , the USA , Canada and all over Europe have studied and carried on his philosophy and skills with him . Zimmermann is a member of the Metallgestalter Baden-Württemberg specialist group and the Association of Visual Artists.

Works include ex-Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker , ex-Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl and actress Ruth Maria Kubitschek .

Paul Zimmermann's son is the blacksmith Heiner Zimmermann . He teaches as a professor at the University of Gothenburg .

Recognitions and awards

• 1969: Scholarship for gifted students
• 1974: Gold Medal from the Reutlingen Chamber of Crafts
• 1982: State Prize for Handicrafts Baden-Württemberg
• 1989: Certificate of Merit, London
• 1990: Business Medal of the State of Baden-Württemberg
• 1994: Honorary plate Federal Association of Metal
• 1995: Gold Medal of Honor HMf
• 1995: Dr. Karl Reuss Prize (Baden-Württemberg State Trade Office)
• 1995: Golden Trouser Button, ITCMD London
• 2002: Hans Model Memorial Prize

Publications

Work by Paul Zimmermann (1975)

• Garden and entrance gates. Hofmann Verlag, 1978, ISBN 3-87346-055-6 .
• Blacksmiths and locksmiths of today. Hoffmann Verlag, 1978, ISBN 3-87346-047-5 .
• Kovácsműves alkotások. Sárádi Kálmán Budapest 1981, ISBN 963-10-3610-3 .
• Ironwork of today. Hoffmann Verlag, 1986, ISBN 3-87346-082-3 .
• Art from the fire. Hoffmann Verlag, 1987, ISBN 3-87346-083-1 .
• Art forging. Ch. Coleman Verlag, 1987, ISBN 3-87128-028-3 .
• The hand shapes with the head. Tithos Verlag, 1995, ISBN 3-88480-021-3 .
• Railings, bars and fences. CH. Coleman Verlag, 2000, ISBN 3-87128-049-6 .
• Doors, portals and gates. Ch. Coleman Verlag, 2001, ISBN 3-87128-050-X .
• Urban space design. CH. Coleman Verlag, 2001, ISBN 3-87128-053-4 .
• Farewell, the last farewell. Arnoldische Verlagsanstalt, 2002, ISBN 3-89790-182-X .
• Just like here. Artur Verlag, 2011, ISBN 978-3-9813648-3-5 .

Catalogs

• Towards a new Iron Age. Victoria and Albert Museum , London 1982, ISBN 0-905209-23-0 .
• International Crafts. Thames & Hudson, 1991, ISBN 0-500-01522-8 .
• FE Touring Exhibition. 1994, ISBN 0-9524763-0-4 .

literature

• Paul Zimmermann In: Art + [ie And] Craft: European handicraft. Ritterbach 1991, p. 27.

Web links

Commons : Paul Zimmermann (blacksmith)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Literature by and about Paul Zimmermann in the catalog of the German National Library
• Official website of Paul Zimmermann
• 50 years of the art forge studio Paul Zimmermann. In: Reutlinger General-Anzeiger.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Article in ENBW Magazin February 2006, pp. 26–27.
2. ^ Paul Zimmermann In: Art + [ie and] handicraft: European handicraft. Verlagsanstalt, 1990, p. 205.
3. ^ Paul Zimmermann. In: Library Service , Volume 24, Issues 1–6, German Library Association, 1990, p. 680.
4. ^ Paul Zimmermann. In: Patrick M. De Winter: The Welfenschatz: Testimony to sacred art of the German Middle Ages. Tourist book, 1986, p. 169.
5. ^ Paul Zimmermann. In: The Anvil's Ring. Volume 31, Artist-Blacksmiths' Association of North America, 2002, p. 1.
6. ↑ Canadian Blacksmith Association 2006 Introduction to the Canadian Forge ( Memento of the original from July 4, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
7. ↑ Hephaestus Yearbook. Metal Design International, 2000, ISBN 3-931951-10-3 , pp. 63-93.
8. ↑ Heiner Zimmermann's biography
9. ^ Paul Zimmermann. In: MD. Furniture interior design. Konradin-Verlag Robert Kohlhammer, 1996, p. 100.