16 October 2015

Preview of the catalogue for the 'Orientalist Glass Art' exhibition of pieces from the Lobmeyr Family Museum, Vienna in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

On occasion of the exhibition 'Orientalist Glass Art – Masterpieces from the Museum of J&L Lobmeyr, Vienna' at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization in the capital city of the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates from 21 October 2015 until 16 January 2016, the Austrian glass manufactory Lobmeyr sent a digital preview of the exhibition catalogue.

The exhibition focuses on the cultural dialogue between European design & architecture and Islamic culture. This dialogue can be - such as Dr. Heinz Fischer, President of Austria, points out in the first article of the catalogue - tracked in the case of Lobmeyr back to the 19th century. President Heinz Fischer names several examples like the presentation of Lobmeyr interior products in Arabstyle design at the Egyptian Pavilion at the world exhibitions 1873 in Vienna and 1878 in Paris or the late 20th century chandelier designs by Lobmeyr for the Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.

fig.: The largest part of the catalogue's content is dedicated to the depiction of products and workshop drawings such as the ewer on this page from Lobmeyr's Arabian Series designed by Johann Machytka & Franz Schmoranz after 1877. The glass object (incl. drawing - not on view on this page) is described with focus on the ornaments and the European artists' 19th century interpretation. (Photo: Klaus Fritsch Vienna 2015/www.klausfritsch.com.)

Alongside to pictures of arts & crafts objects and sketches of ornaments, the catalogue provides glimpses into design history with images like one of the company's works published by the periodical for industrial and decorative arts 'L'Art Pour Tous' (distributed between 1861 - 1906) or architecture-related impressions such as installation reports for chandeliers.


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