Erich Zimmermann


Born:

1958, Augsburg, Germany

Training / Education:

  • 1990 passed the examination to become a master silversmith
  • 1994 passed the master goldsmith's examination
  • 1995 was acknowledged as a Professional Artist by the Academy of Visual Arts in Munich Germany

Work Experience:

  • 1994 lecturer silversmithing seminar at the academy of Trier Germany
  • 1996 lecturer silversmithing seminar at the Hallam University in Sheffield, Great Britain
  • 1997 and 1998 lecturer at the academy of Trier Germany
  • 2002 lecturer at the academy of Trier Germany
  • Exhibitions (Solo & Group Shows):
  • 1992 "10th Silver Triennial" at the Goldsmiths' House (Goldschmiedehaus) in Hanau Germany
  • 1993 "Salz & Pfeffer" (Salt & Pepper) exhibition, first at the Schmuck Form Zurich,Bremen and Rotterdam
  • 1993 ñ 2000 participated 6 times at the "FORM" special exhibition at the Frankfurt Fair Germany
  • 1994 "Dinner for Two", first at the Museum for Nature and Urban Culture, Schw‰bisch Gm¸nd, then at the Baden State Museum, Karlsruhe, and Bonn Germany
  • 1995 "11th Silver Triennial" at the Goldsmiths' House in Hanau, continued as a touring exhibition in Prague, Vienna, Munich and Zons
  • 1995 "Tragbare D¸fte" (Wearable Scents) exhibition, first at the Schmuck Forum Zurich, Geneva, Nijmegen, Bonn and Vienna
  • 1998 "12th Silver Triennial" at the Goldsmiths' House in Hanau, continued as a touring exhibition in Pforzheim, Budapest, Prague and G&Mac246;ttingen
  • 2001 independent exhibition at the Crafts Museum of Dresden at the Pillnitz Palace Germany

Awards / Grants:

  • 1992 "OECO-PACK" design competition at the Stein castle near Nuremberg, continued as a touring exhibition in Bremen, Bayreuth and Bresslau Germany
  • 1993 "Design Plus" Award, Frankfurt Ambiente Fair Germany
  • 1997 "Aktion Plagiarius" ("Plagiary" Award), Frankfurt Ambiente fair
  • 1997 prize winner for a piece presented at the international necklace competition entitled "In neuer Reihung" (New Sequences) at the Museum for Nature and Urban Culture in Schw‰bisch Gm¸nd, continued as a touring exhibition at the Goldsmiths' House in Hanau and in Bonn Germany
  • 1999 Red Dot Award for High Design Quality from the Design Center of North Rhine-Westphalia (Design Zentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen) Germany
  • 2000 "best of selection 2000ì award from the Design Center of North Rhine-Westphalia Germany

Collections (Private & Museum):

2001 Craft Museum of Dresden Germany

Artist Statement:

His love for gemstones and his enthusiasm for the multitude of design options that precious metals offer are the sources from which the German gold- and silversmith Erich Zimmermann draws his inspiration. It is by consistently examining forms and materials that he develops his jewelry collections.

The plastic shapes of the Cocoon series go back to Zimmermann's roots in the silversmith's craft, while his Cleopatra colliers have become modern classics that harmoniously unite the gemstones' radiant color with the archaic sheen of gold.