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Clemens
Friedell
Clemens Friedell was born near New Orleans in 1872. Three years
later his family moved to Vienna, where he was educated, and eventually
apprenticed with an Austrian silversmith. At 17 he moved to Texas, and in 1901 joined Gorham in Providence, Rhode Island, where he worked for seven
years on their prestigious Martelé ("hammered" in French)
handwrought line. In 1911 he found his way to Pasadena, California, and
gained notoriety the following year with his "orange blossom set"
for brewing tycoon E. R. Maier -- 107 pieces reminiscent of Martelé,
with service for 18 and several large elaborate items including a 28-inch
tall centerpiece. Maier paid him $15,000. It took over a year to
make, used 2,200 ounces of silver, and was decorated with over 10,000
hand-chased orange blossoms.
Friedell burnished his reputation by catering to the local
carriage trade with a series of heavy silver "equine portrait
plaques" for his horse-loving customers. He received numerous
commissions, and was highly sought after as a maker of trophies for
organizations including the one that ran the Tournament of Roses parade. He
set up shop in the Hotel Maryland, one of Pasadena's swankier resorts, and
did well enough to retire in 1921 to Texas. After divorcing his wife in
1927, he moved back to California and set up another store, on Pasadena's
main street. He began making everyday silver items, and remained there until
his death in 1963.
The bronze tray below is very unusual.
We have quite a few wonderful silver Friedell objects in our collection, but
this is the first bronze item we've come across. It is signed FRIEDELL
PASADENA on the front, and the detail and workmanship are outstanding.
The Friedell work most commonly found today is from his later
output -- items like trays,
dishes, demitasse sets, and vases, some with swirling
ornate chased and repousse monograms, many of which are wonderfully
executed. The large jewelry piece here is very unusual. It is part of set
with two earrings and is signed CLEMENS / FRIEDELL / PASADENA / STERLING /
HAND WROUGHT
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Friedell jewelry mark:
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Friedell holloware mark:
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Friedell scratched signature:
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Brooch (with earrings -- see below right). Massive
repousse brooch in the shape of a California poppy, with one large blossom,
one smaller blossom, and one bud, on an intertwined set of stems and
fern-like leaves. Beautiful, delicate hammering on the flowers.
3-15/16" L and 2-7/16" W
 
Friedell may have sold brooches and earrings in sets, signing
the brooches only. The poppy earrings on the right (1-5/16" L and
1-5/8" W) came with the brooch above. The rose earrings (13/16" W)
were documented as being produced by Friedell, but neither of these pairs is
signed. The rose pair is unusual because of the small pearl at center in
each.
Tray, rectangular, bronze, with repoussé cast image of nude
female figure riding ocean wave. Angular raised edges. Nice detail. Heavy
and very unusual. 6-11/16" L and 5" W and 11/16" H. Signed:
FRIEDELL PASADENA
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Basket, bride's, tall
form hammered surfaces with pedestal base and flared, ruffled top, with
high strap handle. Repoussé DEARIE monogram on side. 7-3/4" W and
15-1/2" H to top of handle. Marked: STERLING / FRIEDELL PASADENA
A similar one pictured on p. 38 of Kurland-Zabar's
"Reflections: Arts & Crafts Metalwork in England and the United
States / Kurland-Zabar"
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Bouillon set, four (4) bowl holders with Lenox porcelain
liners. Softly hammered surface. Underliners are round. Holders have two
looping strap handles, flaring round feet. In pristine condition.
Engraved IJD mono on underliners. Heavy. Bowl Holder: 5-1/4" W and
2-1/16" H. Underliner: 6-1/8" W. Bowl: 4-1/4" W and
2-1/8" H. Marked: On underliner: CLEMENS FRIEDELL / PASADENA /
STERLING / HAND WROUGHT
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Bowl, round, with wavy ruffled edge, flat bottom. Hammered
surface. 6-1/8" W and 1-3/8" H. Marked: CLEMENS FRIEDELL /
PASADENA / STERLING / HAND WROUGHT
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Bowl, ruffled edge form " on low pedestal foot. Nicely
hammered. 6" W and 2-3/4" H. Marked: STERLING / FRIEDELL /
PASADENA / HAND WROUGHT
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Bowl, trophy, with wavy ruffled edge, convex bottom, applied
wire to underside of rim, hammered surface. Engraved "LADIES HANDICAP
GOLF / TOURNAMENT / HOTEL HUNTINGTON / PASADENA / CALIFORNIA / 1917"
7-1/8" W and 1-1/4" H. Marked: STERLING / FRIEDELL PASADENA
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Bowl, very large, oval, in art nouveau style, on spreading
oval foot. Extensive repoussé decoration of flowers, leaves, and berries
in middle of each side below edge. Repoussé flower decoration at one
raised end, flower and MSC mono at other raised end. Applied square wire
runs along top edge. Nice hammering and repoussé work somewhat reminiscent
of the Martele style. 11-3/8" L and 7" W and 5" H.
Marked: STERLING / FRIEDELL / PASADENA
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Box, rectangular, on small feet with hinged lid and engraved
"LWB" in raised diamond area on cover. Hammered surfaces.
4-13/16" L and 3-1/2" W and 1-13/16" H. Marked: STERLING /
FRIEDELL PASADENA
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Box, oval covered, low, with removable flush fitting cover.
Hammered surfaces with chased and repousse CLW monogram on cover.
1-1/8" H and 4-5/8" L and 2-1/2" W. Marked: This bears the
cipher of the Mulholland Brothers shop (M in anvil) / STERLING / 342 /
FRIEDELL PASADENA
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Candlesticks, tall, pair, with a chased and repousse floral
design repeated four times. Hammered surface. 11-1/4" H and
5-1/4" W at base, 2-9/16" W at top. Marked: STERLING / CLEMENS
FRIEDELL / PASADENA / HAND WROUGHT
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Creamer and Sugar. Squat forms on self feet with flaring
sides which turn sharply inward. Flat top strap handles. Engraved
"DCR / 1903-1928" mono. Hammered surface. Creamer: 2-7/8"
H and 5-3/16" W. Sugar: 2-1/4" H and 5-1/4" W. Marked: FRIEDELL
/ PASADENA / STERLING /
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Demitasse set, eight (8) cup holders with Lenox liners. Softly
hammered surfaces. Holders have looping strap handles. Heavy. Signed on the
underliners: STERLING / CLEMENS FRIEDELL / PASADENA. Cup Holder:
2-5/8" W and 2-1/8" H. Underliner: 3-7/8" W. Cup:
2-1/16" W and 2" H.
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Dinner plates, set of four (4), large, with wide raised edges.
Softly hammered surfaces. Wonderful condition. Engraved IJD mono on edge.
Very heavy. Applied wire to underside of rim. Signed: CLEMENS FRIEDELL /
PASADENA / STERLING / HAND WROUGHT. 11" W.
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Frame, picture, rectangular, with hammered surfaces, ornate
repoussé BBT (?) mono on bottom, over wood and cloth backing with hinged
wooden support. 8-1/4" W and 11" H and 9/16" D. Marked:
FRIEDELL PASADENA / STERLING
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Frame, picture, rectangular, with hammered surfaces, ornate
repoussé ECR mono on bottom, over wood and cloth backing with hinged wooden
support. Applied wire around inside and outside of frame and at diagonals
where sides meet. Easel is original and in frayed condition. Surface is
worked to resemble wood grain. Sides are in somewhat rough condition.
9-1/4" W and 12" H. Marked: FRIEDELL PASADENA / STERLING
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Letter holder, or napkin holder, two section, with small
curving strap feet and scalloped edges. 4-3/4" H and 2" D and
6-1/8" W. Marked: STERLING / CLEMENS FRIEDELL / PASADENA
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Nut dishes, eight (8), round,flat bottoms, applied wire to
rim. 3" W and 1/2" H. Marked STERLING / FRIEDELL / PASADENA and
STERLING.
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Pen, hammered gilded shaft with clip for nib, flaring to a
square top. End is finely chased on the sides below the top and on the top
itself. Sides each have a detailed blossom. Top is a raised crest or
coat-of-arms. Nice workmanship. Signature missing the initial
"F" 4-7/8" L and 7/8" W across top. Marked: RIEDELL
/ PASADENA
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Plate with broad border, hammered surfaces with flat bottom
and broad flat border. Chased and repousse mono in center. 7" W.
Marked: STERLING / FRIEDELL PASADENA
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Plate, handwrought, round with flat bottom, wide raised edge,
elaborate repoussé NKM mono in script on edge. Hammered surface. 11"
W.
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Plate, round with flat bottom, wide raised edge, upturned
folded-over edge, elaborate repoussé EGK mono in script on edge. Hammered
surface. 5-15/16" W. Marked: FRIEDELL PASADENA / STERLING
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Tray, round, large, with wide raised edge and elaborate
repoussé CPJ (?) mono on edge. 14" W and 5/8" H. Marked:
STERLING / FRIEDELL PASADENA
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Tray, tea, two- handled, oval with flat bottom and high flared
border with pierced handles. Heavy applied wire around rim and handles.
With original felt bag. 19-1/4" L and 12" W. Marked: STERLING
CLEMENS FRIEDELL PASADENA / STERLING [stamped] / Clemens Friedell / Maker
[engraved in script on bottom]
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Trophy, in vase form, tall, with applied wire on rim, engraved
"Annandale Golf Club / Special / Invitation / Tournament / Winner
First Flight / April 1918 / Won By" in arrowhead-shaped cartouche on
side, nice hammering. 12-3/8" H and 4-5/8" W. Marked: STERLING
/ FRIEDELL / PASADENA / BASE / FILLED
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Vase, floriform, with round base. The top edge resembles
overlapping flower petals. Engraved "LOS" on foot. Applied wire
to inside of rim. 5-1/4" H and 3-1/16" W. Marked: STERLING /
FRIEDELL / PASADENA / BASE / FILLED
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Vase, trumpet on broad base with flaring, trumpet-form body
and beautiful ruffled rim with applied wire. Hammered surface.
9-13/16" H and 4-5/16" W. Marked: STERLING / CLEMENS FRIEDELL /
PASADENA / BASE / FILLED
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Vase, trumpet, broad, circular pedestal base tapering in, then
flaring gradually to ruffled rim which has wire added. Hammered surface.
7-3/4" H and 3-1/4" W Marked: FRIEDELL / PASADENA / STERLING /
BASE / FILLED
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Vase, trumpet, hammered surfaces with pedestal base and ruffled
top. Chased and repoussé M mono on side. 13-1/4" H and 4" W.
Marked: STERLING / FRIEDELL PASADENA
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Vase, trumpet, tall, with broad base and narrow body, flaring
at top, with ruffled rim, two horizontal bands spaced evenly in body.
13" H and 4-3/16" W at top and 4-3/8 W at base. Marked:
FRIEDELL PASADENA / STERLING / BASE LOADED
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