Jean-Baptiste Stahl

Johann Baptist steel (French: Jean -Baptiste steel; born June 20, 1869 in Oberbetschdorf; † January 31, 1932 in Keuchingen ) was an Alsatian porcelain sculptor and inventor of Phanolith.

Life

Steel was the son of Louis and Anna Maria Braun steel. He was married to Angela Bausch. Steel grew up in the traditional Alsatian pottery family. His studies of ceramics and sculpture led him to the nearby Strasbourg and after Hatton of Hausen. With its fine porcelain reliefs, he won a gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900. Based on rural issues and representations of Greek mythology, his works developed independent creations of Art Nouveau. His white, translucent figure reliefs showing through the blue or greenish porcelain surface. To enhance the three-dimensional illusion, modulates this transparency and thereby achieved pictorial depth. Darker areas of the relief image give the impression of shadow and a depth to the background. Other areas of the reliefs appear in a dazzling white, as if the scene would be illuminated by a light. This unique fusion of sculptural relief image and painterly- translucent background image was designated Phanolith, translucent stone.

Johann Baptist steel is fulfilled in this championship as porcelain artists in the so-called Pâte sur pâte style. Precise pen and ink drawings were Johann Baptist steel in preparation for its porcelain works. Some of his objects exist colorized workshop final drawings. They were secured end of World War II by his grandson Erich Stahl ( born March 24, 1931) from the rubble of the factory building from Villeroy & Boch. Johann Baptist steel created his work as an employee of this earthenware and porcelain factory in Mettlach. He was head of the art school and was head of the workshop of modellers. His son, Hans (* November 22, 1898, † 13 January 1978) followed him in this position.

Phanolith plate at the height of his creative

Section of a large Cup

. Full signature " JStahl "

Short signature " mirage "

Original of the workshop final drawing a Phanolith jardiniere

Vases from the Strasbourg sketchbook from 1894

Mussels from a second sketchbook 1900

His former home in Mettlach- Keuchingen with the artist himself designed and signed relief panels