Leseprobe

11 years 1903 to 1907 Deutsche Werkstätten furnished about a dozenwarships for the Imperial GermanNavy. Furthermore, between 1906 and 1938 the company fitted out at least 18 luxury ocean liners, including the Kronprinzessin Cecilie (1907), the Bremen (1929) and the Wilhelm Gustloff (1938). On top of these, Deutsche Werkstätten worked on the interiors of multiple large steamships for inland navigation, one of which, the Leipzig (1929), still sails today. Shortly after the Second World War, Deutsche Werkstätten received numerous commissions to refurbish former passenger ships. We have since uncovered five such projects. Eventually, we circulated some of this information about our history of outfitting ships, including the occasional photo. Time and again, we were met with requests from colleagues, business partners and friends to print ‘a little something’ on the topic. Here is our answer! And I am very pleased to note that it has turned into more than just a little something. I am equally pleased that Anna Ferrari, from the Victoria & Albert Museum, agreed to provide an introductory text on the international influence of German passenger ships and German design in the first half of the twentieth century. Her text will transport you back into the dazzling era of the ‘ocean giants’. Afterwards we will present – up close and personal – a number of historical examples of Deutsche Werkstätten’s craftsmanship from that period. My thanks also go to Tulga Beyerle, director of the Kunst­ gewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts) in Dresden, who has contributed an article on the artistic, cultural and historical significance of Deutsche Werkstätten and its collection. Furthermore, we have received support on this project from the Hauptstaatsarchiv Dresden and the Deutsche Fotothek. I would like to take the opportunity to thank these organisations as well. And to our readers: I hope you enjoy perusing these pages! Yours, Fritz Straub