Wilhelm Tasso Mattar

Bio

Wilhelm Tasso Mattar (born 1946) is a jewellery designer and gallerist who studied sociology at the University of Cologne (1969–75) and jewellery design at the University of Applied Arts in Pforzheim (1975–79). He currently lives and works in Mallorca.

In Cologne, Mattar established Galerie Mattar, which became the hub of the local jewellery scene by showcasing the works of leading international makers for over a decade during the 80s. 

In 1984, he founded Forum für Schmuck und Design, an organisation dedicated to connecting makers, wearers and curators across Europe. Ten years later, the Forum launched the inaugural Ars Ornata Europeana symposium, a prestigious three-day event that brought together artists, curators, educators, galleries and organisations through exhibitions, workshops and discussions, rotating among European cities before becoming biennial. The last edition took place in Manchester in 2007.
 

Statement

Wilhelm Tasso Mattar's distinctive aesthetic approach embraces everyday materials as sources of artistic transformation. Since the 1980s, he has elevated humble substances—cattle bone, concrete, printed tinplate, soapstone, amber, and granite—into exceptional pieces that challenge conventional jewellery-making. Mattar simultaneously works with fine precious metals such as gold and silver. Whether using ordinary or noble materials, his pieces are characterised by meticulous craftsmanship, with multiple components delicately joined with filigree gold bars, creating objects that balance unexpected lightness with timeless elegance.