A pioneering study of one of the most remarkable makers of jewelry and metalwork in early-20th-century America

A true eclectic in her personal life, her professional pursuits, and her creative expression, Marie Zimmermann has proven an elusive character for historians. But her skill as a designer and prodigious output of extraordinary jewelry and metalwork in the early 20th century have routinely caught people by surprise. At its best, Zimmermann's work is beguiling and exhilarating, exploring a wide range of innovative approaches to pattern, material, and surface. The diversity of her oeuvre, including work in gold, silver, bronze, copper, and iron, is as astonishing as the boldness of the life she led.

This book gathers for the first time the story of Zimmermann's life and work and puts a spotlight on one of the most singular makers of metalwork active in early-20th-century America. Essays by leading scholars in the decorative arts offer extensive new research on Zimmermann and her work, while more than 500 gorgeous full-color images show the breadth and novelty of her design practice.



Published in association with American Decorative Art 1900 Foundation