Cloisonne and Grisaille Enamels by Margaret Seeler Cloisonne and Grisaille Enamels by Margaret Seeler September 22 Through November 5, 1961

ACC/RESEARCH & EDUCATION DEPT MCC ARCHIVES

I Cloisonne and Grisaille Enamels by Margaret Seeler Cloisonne and Grisaille Enamels by Margaret Seeler September 22 through November 5, 1961

Margaret Seeler completed her course in painting, enameling and goldsmithing at the Academy of Fine Arts, Berlin, Germany, in 1931. After several years of inde- pendent work, she traveled widely, visiting Italy, China, Java, Bali, India, Egypt and the United States. She returned to the United States in 1957, to make this country her permanent home. In Vermont, where she first re- sided, Mrs.Seeler set up an enamel and silver workshop and taught art at the Putney School. Almost immediately Mrs. Seeler's beautifully executed cloisonne enamels attracted attention. One of them won the first prize in an exhibition at the Wichita Art Gallery. This led to her appointment as teacher of goldsmithing and enameling in the school of the Wichita Art Association. Mrs. Seeler has returned to the East once more, living now in West- port, where she maintains her studio. Margaret Seeler states that her aim is to revive the fine character of old enamel techniques, but to give them new life and content. She enjoys experimentation in her medium; however, she does not permit herself to become lost in experimentation. Because her enamels often re- quire five to eight transparent coatings, she plans them carefully from the very start. Her preliminary sketches, however, are not very detailed since she prefers the freedom and immediacy that working with wire and pliers affords. Not seeking any quick or easy solutions, Mrs. Seeler constantly endeavors to improve the quality of her enamels. She hopes that someday she may collaborate with craftsmen in other media (i.e. silver, wood, as well as with architects and designers), in order to undertake ambitious projects and to achieve levels of accomplish- ment that will rank with the great creations of artist- craftsmen of the past. Having learned her craft from the ground up, the techniques of goldsmithing and enameling hold no secrets from Margaret Seeler. Cloisonne and grisaille are fully exploited to achieve a wide range of expression, from profound treatments of religious themes, Christian and Jewish, to light-hearted and captivating mythological subjects and remarkable character and portrait studies. RAL

Catalogue

1. Cross. Silver cloisonne on copper, set in mahogany, 1961. 11 1/2" x7 1/2". Woodwork by Louis R. Cecil. Lent by the artist. 2. Wall Plaque, "And You Shall Live". Five panels, silver cloisonne on copper, mounted in wood, inlaid silver inscription, 1961. Commissioned for the Con- gregation Emanu-El, Wichita, Kansas. 16" x 66". Woodwork by Louis R. Cecil. Lent by the Congrega- tion Emanu-El, Wichita, Kansas. 3. Triptych, "Path of Destruction". Silver cloisonné on copper, 1960. 10" x 21". Lent by the Gallery of the Wichita Art Association, Wichita, Kansas. (Cover Illustration, detail) 4. Panel, "Tree of Knowledge". Silver cloisonné on copper, 1959. 5 1/8" x 6 5/8". Lent by the artist. 5. Panel, "Triton and Nymph". Silver cloisonne on copper, 1959. 4 1/2" x 6 1/4". Lent by the artist. 6. Bowl, "Four Seasons". Gold cloisonné on copper, 1959. 8" diameter. Lent by Mrs. S. H. Marcus, Wichita, Kansas. 7. Pendant, "Mother and Child". Gold cloisonné on silver, mounted on gold and silver; gold chain with pearl, 1960. Lent by the artist. 8. Brooch, "Poetry". Gold cloisonné on silver, set in gold, 1959. Lent by Mrs. Fred Chase Koch, Wichita c Art Association, Wichita, Kansas. 9. Necklace. Enamel on silver, gold ornaments, 1960. Lent by Miss Margot Brown, Wichita, Kansas. 10. Cufflinks. Gold cloisonne on gold, 1960. Lent by Mr. Robert L. Williams, Wichita, Kansas. Museum of Contemporary Crafts of the American Craftsmen's Council 29 West 53rd Street. New York 19

11. Model for a Bishop's Ring. Gold cloisonne, silver gilt, 1961. Lent by the artist. 12. Small Box, "Sleeping Child". Grisaille enamel on copper gilt, 1960. 2" x 2 1/2" x 7/8". Lent by the artist. 13. Pill Box, "Danae". Silver cloisonne, 1961. 3" x 2 5/8" x 1/2". Lent by the artist. 14. Small Box, "Centaur". Silver cloisonne, silver gilt, 1958. 2 7/8" x 2 5/8" x 1/2". Lent by the artist. 15. Small Box, "Italian Motive". Silver cloisonne, ivory box, 1946. 2 3/8" x 2 7/8" x 2 3/8". Lent by Mrs. J. v. N. D., Washington, Connecticut. 16. Small Box, "Apollo and Daphne". Grisaille enamel and fine gold on copper, silver gilt box, 1961. 2 5/8" diameter x 1/2". Lent by the artist. 17. Small Box, "Pegasus on the Pasture". Grisaille enamel on copper, silver box, 1961. 2 1/2" x 3" x 1 1/8". Lent by the artist. 18. Small Box, "Mother". Self-Portrait of the artist. Grisaille enamel on copper, silver box. 2 1/2" x 2" x 1". Lent by the artist. 19. Plaque, "Portrait of the Poet Albert Bauer". Grisaille enamel on silver, 1961. 3 1/4" diameter. Lent by the artist. 20. Pin Box, "Loving Couple". Gold cloisonne on copper, silver gilt box, 1961. 2" x 1 1/2" x 3/8". Lent by Mrs. Leonard S. Cottrell, Mamaroneck, New York.