Otto Jakob: Ripe Fruit
“Otto Jakob: Ripe Fruit is just this fascinating exploration of art, design, and craftsmanship that can actually be classified as stand-alone within the genre.”
Not knowing who Mr. Jakob really was and even less familiar with what he has achieved, this reviewer was awed by this man and his body of work. Otto Jakob is a jeweler, but not just any jeweler; he is a self-educated and self-taught craftsman. Jakob is a designer and artist who creates some of the most wondrous and fantastical pieces of jewelry ever conceived.
Otto Jakob: Ripe Fruit serves multiple purposes, answering questions such as, Who is Otto Jakob? What is his philosophy? What are his inspirations? How does he conceive each piece in his oeuvre? Lastly and mostly staggeringly, this book is a catalog of his work offered up with exquisite imagery/photographs that speak to the reader in a language unique to Mr. Jakob.
Vivian Becker’s text is a tad wordy, but it must be read to fully understand Otto Jakob in all of his manifestations as well as how he came to be this distinctively creative force within the world of fine jewelry. He is a phenomenon, though rarely mentioned or referred to within this sphere.
Those familiar with fine or high jewelry might be able to discern bits and pieces of technique and design comparisons or likenesses to DiGrosogno, Hemmerle, Codognato, Verdura, JAR, Stephen Webster, and that’s just a partial listing. Keep in mind that the jewelry of Otto Jakob looks nothing like those brands but might have that same aura and utilize some of their design elements. Otto Jakob: Ripe Fruit is just this fascinating exploration of art, design, and craftsmanship that can actually be classified as stand-alone within the genre.
If you consider yourself among the cognoscenti of fine jewelry or a self-proclaimed authority on the subject and you do not know of Jakob then this is a run don’t walk situation. Otto Jakob: Ripe Fruit broadened this reviewer’s knowledge of fine jewelry as well as being afforded the visual spectacle of his pieces. By the way, if you are only a lover of the classical jewelers like Van Cleef, Cartier, Boucheron and such, this might not be a book for you as there are no parures, no tiaras, and actually not a lot of history; it is all about the artistry and craft of jewelry.