Spitzen der Wiener Werkstatte - Dagobert Peche
by Hartmut Lang
The book opens with a comprehensive section, in German text, on the concept of the Weiner Werkstätte, its history and significance. The Wiener Werkstätte, an association of productive craftsman-designers, was founded in 1903. Previously, little was known about their lace but now, Hartmut Lang has carried out research in the MAK (The Austrian Museum for Applied Art in Vienna) where much of the lace from the Wiener Werkstätte is now kept. Details are included about design, production and marketing of bobbin lace by the Wiener Werkstätte and especially about Dagobert Peche, one of the best-known artists there, whose designs include many for bobbin lace. Other designers are introduced as well. The designs are very different and the numerous illustrations demonstrate this variety, while, at the same time, demonstrating a typical Wiener-Werkstätte style.
In the second part, 16 patterns for lace designed by Dagobert Peche are presented for you to work. There is some straight lace among them but most are bobbin lace pictures of man and animals (bird, greyhound), often mythological figures such as “Daphne” or “Water Deity” or symbolisations like “Spring” or “Wind”. Each pattern has illustrations of the original lace (where available) and of the reconstruction, a clear coloured working diagram and the pricking.
The appendix contains more than 100 photographs of other pieces of lace from the Wiener Werkstätte.