*     19.1.1874     SEIFHENNERSDORF
+     17.8.1968     BERLIN
 
 

At the beginning of this century, Bruno Paul laid the foundations for his extraordinary carrer as one of the leading furniture designers and interior decorators of Germany. At this time he delivered several designs for Ibach pianos.

In the Rhineland and in Westfalia Bruno Paul was mostly known for his later architectural work. From 1921 onward he maintained a studio in Cologne, built villas and stately homes in the English cottage style. His Disch-house from 1928-30 and his extention of the Gerling insurance building 1930-38 are classic examples of his stylistic diversity.
His impoitance as furniture designer, however, reached a much earlier peak. From 1898 on, he collaborated with the newly founded "Vereinigte Werkstätten für Kunst im Handwerk" (united workshops for art in the crafts) and later with the „Deutschen Werkstätten“ (German workshops) in Dresden. Costly luxury interiors as well a furniture models for mass production were the result of this collaboration.
Among the most challenging orders which Bruno Paul received at the beginning of this century were interiors of four luxury liners which he designed for the Norddeutsche Lloyd between 1907 and 1909. This work coinceded with his collaboration with IBACH: For the luxury liner ''Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm" IBACH delivered the grand piano for the ball room and the upright piano for the dining hall.

In its total appearance, the pinao design from 1911 for IBACH is characteristic of Paul's sense for proportions. Slim twin columns support the keyboard. The upper part is framed by two convex with elaborate eliptic ornaments while the lid of the piano is deocated with a fine maeander ornamentation.

The IBACH upright piano C - 118 Edition Design Bruno Paul  is part of the bicentennial edition and is offered in black polish, burr walnut, mahogani, cherry and rosewood veneer.