posted 09-07-2007 07:17 AM            

I just found a really lovely modern sugar bowl tucked in an antique shop, and couldn't resist it to add to my collection of sugar bowls and baskets-I don't have a 20th century piece. I have not been able to identify the maker, so any information anyone has would be welcome. The bowl is marked both on the lid and the base.

posted 09-07-2007 05:32 PM            

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Record Online
June 16, 2006, New Paltz, NY
Professor emeritus receives metalsmith's highest honor

Kurt Matzdorf, professor emeritus of gold and silversmithing and founder of the metals program in the art department at SUNY New Paltz, has been awarded the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of North American Goldsmiths. This is the society's highest award, which recognizes a lifetime of exceptional service to the metalsmith community.

Matzdorf is nationally known for his ceremonial work, especially his 16 university maces, 20 presidential chains of office and 10 presidential medallions. He has exhibited in major public museums on both sides of the Atlantic, including Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Jewish Museum in Berlin.

Matzdorf is the designer and creator of the SUNY New Paltz mace and chain of office. They were commissioned in 1981 for the inauguration of Alice Chandler, who was SUNY New Paltz's president through 1996.

Matzdorf taught at SUNY New Paltz from 1957-85. He completed his undergraduate work in sculpture at London University and his master of fine arts in silversmithing at the University of Iowa.

The Society of North American Goldsmiths, an international nonprofit organization founded in 1969, is the premier metal arts organization for jewelers, designers and metalsmiths. SNAG encourages professional excellence, supports education and advances the jewelry and metal arts, and is dedicated to creating greater public awareness and appreciation of the metal arts.

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Carnegie Magazine
Artisans in Silver: Judaica Today
By Elisabeth R. Agro

......Kurt Matzdorf spends half of his time creating Judaica. The rest of his work consists of secular objects and jewelry. Matzdorf, a silversmith from New Paltz, New York, and professor emeritus of gold and silversmithing at State University of New York, has been working silver for 43 years. He enjoys working in a contemporary style, making objects that are of "today, but yet are timeless." He believes that since we live in the present, his mission is to interpret Judaica for contemporary people.

Matzdorf sees the history of art and sculpture from antiquity to present shaping his work and avoids "faddish styles." Matzdorf began his artistic career as a sculptor and says he evolved into a silversmith. His roots as a sculptor are evident in the Tree of Life motif on his Kiddush Cup. Currently working on doors for an ark-the permanent storage place for the Torah-for the Congregation of Beth Jacobs in Kingston, New York, he will include on the doors decorative symbols alluding to the Twelve Tribes of Israel. He sees his work in precious metal as "celebrating visually our history." .....

Kurt Matzdorf's Kiddush Cup (1983) has strong scultpural presence although it is small in scale. Kiddush, which means "sanctification," celebrates two biblical events: Creation and the Exodus. Kiddush is a prayer declaring that the Sabbath is holy and it is recited over the wine at Sabbath and holiday meals. The Kiddush cup is a special goblet that contains the wine to be blessed.

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BIOGRAPHY: portrait of Kurt Matzdorf

Matzdorf studied at the University of London for his undergraduate degree. He received his M.F.A. Degree from the University f Iowa. Matzdorf wanted to create beautiful things. He saw examples of metalsmithing in 1952 and began to research silversmithing. He enrolled in a summer course and discovered many possibilities for new and exciting metalwork. He was the first person to graduate from University of Iowa with his major concentration in silversmithing. Matzdorf accepted a teaching position at Kansas State Hollard. There he developed the craft department and sold his metalwork. Matzdorf moved on to take a teaching position at SUNY New Paltz and proceeded to build up the jewelry and metalsmithing program. In 1969 the first B.F.A. Degree in jewelry and metalsmithing was offered and the first M.F.A. Degree was offered in 1971.

Matzdorf's commitment to teaching is very strong and he considers teaching to be an extension of his work. He was most influenced by art teachers and the areas of art history and sculpture. He is mostly self taught in the metals discipline. Matzdorf believes art is a means of communication. It should communicate on a variety of levels; aesthetic, intellectual, animal or gut, and mystical. Sources and influences for his work mainly surround the history of man and religion. Matzdorf sees the value of the metalsmith being to help fellow man celebrate important events, particularly through the production of religious related work. In this manner the metalsmith becomes a part of a life cycle through objects and events like a baby spoon, a cup, confirmation, marriage, and graduation. Matzdorf also believes the artist is a leader -- their eyes are the sensitive and perception organ of society.

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posted 12-02-2007 05:04 PM            

He also told me that the maker's mark on my piece (small mark with just initials) was the one he used prior to 1961, when he got a new larger mark. He said he sometimes still uses the smaller mark on small pieces. He told me he was able to afford to have the larger mark made because he had gotten a large commission making items to be given as gifts to President Kennedy and Senator Dirksen by the American Panhellenic Society!

posted 12-23-2008 09:39 PM            

Fred