Hermann Jünger: Authorial Identity and the Goldsmith’s Self-Fashioning Through Artistic Practice, Visual Language and Materiality

Hermann Jünger (1928–2005) stands as one of the defining figures in contemporary jewellery, distinguished equally by the depth of his artistic practice and the far-reaching influence of his pedagogical legacy. His ideas shaped the evolution of contemporary studio jewellery, revolutionising the field by blending artistic discourse with traditional craftsmanship and advancing an elevated conception of the goldsmith’s identity. In this framework, originality became a central creative imperative, and authorship emerged as a defining marker of the jeweller’s intellectual and artistic agency.
Generations of jewellers, such as Otto Künzli, Manfred Bischoff, and Daniel Kruger, among others, emerged as significant figures influenced by his legacy.