60 Josef Berger ■ Martin Ziegler: Einzelmöbel, Bimini-Werkstätten. - Re 
produktion nach zeitgenössischem Foto 
As the myth of the fifth column evaporated the internment camps were gradually emp- 
tied. Fritz was one of the first to be released, and wrote to me, his room-mate on the 
Isle of Man, that the Workshops in Soho had been annihilated. He had found a new 
workplace and pictures of his bijous and interviews with the “poetglassblower” had be- 
gun to appear in London magazines. He lived now in Hampstead, with living quarters 
on top, Hilde’s workshops below and a small space for blowing fine glasses in the 
basement. 
At this time the ceramic artist Lucie Rie, whose work was in iittle demand during the 
war, enriched the ränge of Orplid jewellery with highly original ceramic models of 
brooches, necklaces, buttons etc, all hinting in their severe and elegant shapes the 
potter of future British and world fame. A close friendship with Fritz developed which 
lasted until his death in 1955. When the war was finally over Fritz's partner managed to 
squander the accumulated profits by going to the U. S. A. and buying expensive ma- 
chines for mass producing the glass buttons just when the import from Czechoslova- 
kia had recommenced. The machines were useless and Fritz gave his partner the boot. 
He carried on alone again overstraining his physical abilities until a heart attack forced 
him to run his business from his writing desk. Soon after, Hilde lost all her savings to a 
Spanish refugee woman, whom Fritz had persuaded her to employ in order to ease her 
Office work. The woman was imprisoned but none of the money was recovered. 
It was ten years after the war and the gentle couple had run their course. Fritz died in 
hospital after another heart attack and Hilde followed him a few months later. 
FINIS BIMINI - EXIT ORPLID.