Fiedler  257-12,  Eiselt  19-17,  Rath  913-20
Violet  jardiniere  (9393-11)
Fiedler  214-11,  Fiedler  280-13,
Lenhardt  2078-15,  Lenhardt  2100-15,  Eiselt  5-17,  Rath  914-20
ARNOLD  NECHANSKY  (pp.  234-238)
In  the  course  of  my  examination  of  Lobmeyr’s  order  books,  I  came  across  the  expression
  “bronzite  coating”  for  Fiedler’s  order  number  261-12.  Fortunately  the  relevant  designs
  by  Arnold  Nechansky  still  survive,  so  that  we  are  able  to  form  an  impression  of  the
decoration,  though  not  of  the  shape  (jar:  361-12,  lid:  500-12)  of  this  lidded  jar.  The  typical
  elongated  proportions  of  Nechansky’s  figures  are  also  to  be  found  here.  They  are  already
  familiär  to  us  from  cut  glassware  (see  bibliography  on  cat.  nos.  126-129)  and  postcards
  of  the  Wiener  Werkstätte.  The  working  patterns  were  probably  the  drawings  designated
  with  numbers  (pp.  236,  cat.  nos.  126-128).  It  is  difficult  to  decide  whether  the
original  designs  are  still  among  the  surviving  sheets.  So  far  it  has  only  been  possible  to
date  Fiedler’s  work  to  the  year  1912.
UNKNOWN  DESIGNERS  (pp.  230-233)
Although  the  documentation  on  bronzite  decoration  is  very  extensive,  there  are  still
some  unanswered  questions,  such  as  the  designers  of  several  decorations  for  vases,
goblets  and  other  glassware.
At  least  there  is  no  doubt  about  the  shape  number  (2619-13)  of  one  vase  (cat.  no.  122,
p.  232),  as  it  is  noted  on  a  working  drawing  with  the  same  shape,  but  another  decoration
(in  black  painting).  Probably  a  number  of  artists  tried  their  hands  at  producing  the  vase:
Mühlbauer  (1-13)  and  Thomas  (1-14).
THE  PAINTERS
The  records  show  that  bronzite  decorations  were  produced  from  about  1911/12  tili
around  1920.  There  is  no  documentation  indicating  a  later  date,  though  this  cannot  be
precluded.  However,  the  production  period  probably  did  not  extend  beyond  the  twenties.
  The  most  important  painters  worked  in  Steinschönau.  This  was  certainly  not  a
coincidence,  as  this  was  not  only  the  location  of  the  school  of  glassmaking,  but  also  a
branch  of  the  Lobmeyr  Company.  The  order  books  mention  the  following  artists  in
Steinschönau:
Karl  Fiedler  (“Goldfiedler”)  (Steinschönau  no.  209),  Josef  Lenhardt,  Josef  Eiselt  (Steinschönau ­
  no.  472),  Norbert  Eisert  (Steinschönau,  no.  279)  and  Karl  Thomas  Jr.  The  painter
  Heinrich  Bergmann  also  executed  several  bronzite  decorations  for  Lobmeyr  although ­
  he  was  resident  in  Winterberg  (Lobmeyr  was  related  by  marriage  to  the  Kraliks  in
Winterberg).  Josef  Nowak  in  Podol  is  also  mentioned,  though  he  was  probably  responsible
  only  for  the  execution  of  gold  line  decorations  -  and  that  on  a  very  small  scale.
Fiedler,  Lenhardt  and  Eiselt  were  apparently  the  painters  whom  Lobmeyr  most  frequently
  employed  for  bronzite  decorations.  Fiedler  worked  for  Lobmeyr  from  1911  tili
1914,  Lenhardt  from  1912  tili  1917  and  Eiselt  finally  from  1917  tili  1919.
Otto  Pietsch,  a  teacher  at  Steinschönau  school  of  glassmaking,  evidently  played  an  important ­
  röle  in  the  execution  of  bronzite  decorations  from  1919  onwards,  probably  acting
  as  a  middleman  for  the  Lobmeyr  Company.  Thus  the  serial  numbers  noted  in  the  designs ­
  with  P  (and  a  number)  or  Pietsch  (and  a  number)  do  not  mean  the  same  as  the

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