Book Description
For many years, the word collecting has been closely associated with paintings, sculptures, and antique furniture, while craft objects were often regarded as occupying a space somewhere between art and design. Over the past two decades, however, growing interest from museums, galleries, and the international auction market has brought contemporary craft into the spotlight. Jewellery, ceramics, glass, metalwork, and woodworking have steadily moved beyond the category of applied arts to become significant fields of artistic collecting. Danner Prize 2020: 100 Years of Support to Bavaria's Outstanding Arts and Crafts by the Danner Foundation was published within this context. Serving both as a centennial publication celebrating the Danner Foundation and as an insightful survey of contemporary European craft, the book offers a valuable perspective on the evolving culture of craft collecting.
Since its establishment in 1920, the Danner Foundation has played a vital role in supporting outstanding craftspeople throughout Bavaria, with the Danner Prize recognizing some of the region's most accomplished contemporary makers. Published to mark the Foundation's one-hundredth anniversary, this volume presents not only the winners and shortlisted works from the thirteenth Danner Prize, but also combines archival materials, historical documents, and exhibition records from the Foundation's extensive collection. Together, they trace the remarkable transformation of German craftsmanship from traditional artisanal practice into a major force within contemporary art. The result is far more than a competition catalogue—it is a richly illustrated archive spanning the histories of craft, collecting, and culture.
What makes this publication particularly compelling is not simply the extraordinary level of craftsmanship, but the ways in which artists use materials to redefine the relationship between object and viewer. Whether through magnetic jewellery that can be endlessly reconfigured, forged titanium works that push the technical limits of metalworking, or experimental explorations of glass, ceramics, wood, and fibre, the featured artists demonstrate that contemporary craft is no longer driven solely by technical mastery. Instead, materials themselves become vehicles for ideas, expression, and critical inquiry. Function increasingly gives way to conceptual thinking, material research, and the experience of viewing, helping explain why contemporary craft has become increasingly sought after by museums, curators, and collectors worldwide.
Danner Prize 2020 ultimately reminds us that collecting craft is about far more than acquiring beautifully made objects—it is about preserving the evolving dialogue between materials, techniques, and cultural history. As contemporary craft continues to transcend the traditional boundaries between art, design, and functional objects, each work becomes a testament to its maker's response to the modern world. This volume not only documents a century of Bavarian craftsmanship, but also reflects the changing landscape of contemporary craft collecting, demonstrating that the true value of these works lies not merely in their form or technical excellence, but in the creativity, cultural significance, and fresh interpretations of material and aesthetics they embody.
Details
Author: Danner Foundation
Publisher: Arnoldsche Art Publishers
Publication Year: 2021
Dimensions: 25 × 17 cm
Binding: Hardcover
