History
The history of our atelier is like a constantly evolving process,
einem sich im Feuer der Zeit formenden Schmuckstücks, an dem 5 Generationen von Goldschmieden seit knapp 150 Jahren werken. Eine Geschichte wie ein Goldschmiede Kunstwerk, dessen Elemente aus historischen Figuren und Begebenheiten bestehen, aus großen Persönlichkeiten und der Schaffenskraft einer Familie.
Wir freuen uns hier Einblicke in die lebendige Geschichte unserer Goldschmiede
und der Familie Schneider-Rappel zu geben.
1842
Jakob Philip Rappel was born in Athens as the son of an artillery smith in the service of Prince Charles. After three years he returned to Munich (then called "Isar-Athens"), where he completed his goldsmith apprenticeship and soon became a master.
1875
After a creative period in Innsbruck, the "workshop for arts and crafts metalwork and special workshop for church utensils" opened in Schwaz. With impressive gold work, mainly in the sacred area, the workshop soon gained an excellent reputation. This is followed by extremely honorable orders.
1890
Impressed by Philip Rappels creativity, the prince-bishop of Brixen placed an order for the church of the Hofburg: a reliquary for the holy Rotus and the holy Ämilian.
1894
J. P. Rappel created the magnificent tabernacle for the altar of grace in the Absam pilgrimage church; based on the design of the Franciscan artist Father Josef M. Reiter, to whom the miraculous image of Mary appeared on a window pane.
On the occasion of the World Eucharistic Congress, J.P. Rappel commissions another monstrance to be made for the Linz Cathedral based on the Father's design.
1899
For the Golden Roof built by Emperor Maximilian in Innsbruck, J. P. Rappel was entrusted with the renewal of the gold shingles. Using a specially developed method, the 2,377 old and 300 new shingles are fire-gilded in the Schwaz workshop. In the same year, members of the Habsburg imperial family donated most of the votive jewelry for the monstrance of the Adoration Church in Bolzano, which the goldsmith Rappel earned in making. The artistic productions of the Rappel house this year lead to the honorable award of the K. u. K. Hofgoldschmiede.
1901
Pope Leo XIII places the order for the production of a crown for a statue of Immaculate in the newly built Cathedral of the Conception of Mary in Linz (on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the dogma of the "Immaculate Conception"). The crown, which weighs 2180 grams, is almost entirely made of 18-carat gold.
1900
Archduke Eugen pays an honorary visit to the workshop as part of a visit by the State Rifle Battalion on May 3rd (arriving by express train at exactly 8:08, as the newspaper knew exactly to report).
1906
The goldsmith Rappel ordered sumptuous sarcophagi for the newly furnished burial place of Archduchess Katharina von Mantua and her daughter in the cloister of the Servite monastery.
1910
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria orders altar devices from the Rappel family for the chapel of his Salzburg hunting lodge in Blühnbach and donates a neo-baroque monstrance for Brno.
1912
The customer base expands to foreign countries and the works of art go all over the world. More and more orders come primarily from North America.
1916
Jakob Rappel Junior, born in 1877, takes over the management of the workshop and now directs the fortunes of the family business in and out of a difficult time for the craft.
The great war is a disaster for the craft. Gold and silver must be delivered. Nevertheless, every effort is made to keep as many employees as possible.
1931
Jakob Rappel founds the Schwazer Heimatmuseum, which today is at home in Freundsberg Castle. The region's extensive inventory of molds is given a place where it is collected and accessible to the public.
1935
Anna Rappel and Herbert Julius Schneider get married and thus combine the names of two highly renowned families of goldsmiths. Schneider and Rappel become Schneider-Rappel. At this point, a few words about Herbert Julius' father, namely Professor Julius Schneider, who strongly influenced an entire generation of goldsmiths with his unique craftsmanship, should not be missing. He held a chair in Munich and students from many countries made pilgrimages to him to refine their specialist knowledge with him. Julius Schneider himself worked on major commissions: such as the essay for Kaiser Wilhelm II, the cup for the Nuremberg exhibition in 1906, on the votive plaque of the Bavarian Aristocratic Association for
1942
Herbert Julius Schneider took over the management of the goldsmith's workshop and somehow survived the disaster of the World War. The historical style of his predecessors is slowly replaced by a modern, individual design style. This became unmistakable for it ́s look, one that was reduced to the minimum of formal decoration. Julius Schneider Senior was awarded the Ring of Honor by the Society for Goldsmiths.
1951
The Munich-Upper Bavaria Jewellers, Gold and Silversmiths Guild appoints Prof. Julius Schneider as their senior master.
1964
In addition to secular work such as jewellery and trophies, sacred commissions like altar pieces were taken, for many churches in Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Salzburg. Such pieces, stamped with the Schneider-Rappel trade mark, were exported all over the world - from Germany, Portugal and Yugoslavia to America, Asia and African countries. The stunning monstrance for the Eucharistic World Congress in Bombay in 1964 was made in our workshop.
1981
Herbert Julius and his son Arno were commissioned to create a bishop's staff for Bishop Reinhold Stecher, while other craftsmen from the home shop went as far as America and Bolivia.
1985
The 4th generation, Arno Schneider with his twin sister Anke Höck Schneider and their older sister Eva Wex-Schneider, take the reins. As with every generational change their style differs from the previous one. Although there is a flowing transition, a respect for the craft in all its forms. Arno and his sisters' designs increasingly hold tension between sculpture, art-object and jewellery.
1990
Schneider-Rappel won the honorary prize in the Austrian competition "Jewellery made of precious metals".
1992
Numerous exhibitions in Austria and abroad, such as at the world exhibition - the EXPO in Seville and then Barcelona show that Europe too responds to the clean and original designs.
1994
The opening of outlets in New York and Los Angeles as well as annual exhibitions in Japan show that Schneider-Rappel designs still hold international interest
Die Formensprache erreicht einen neuen Höhepunkt, in dem Bildkörper von Zen-gleicher Verdichtung und Klarheit entstehen.
2017
Lea joined the Schneider-Rappel gold smithy. Her pieces are characterized by an openness to new influences and techniques. They reflect both the legacy of the past and the future of the Schneider-Rappel company. Like her ancestors, she finds a place in the workshop to evolve.
2019
Our annual Japan visit with exhibitions, was a success in many ways, full of delightful encounters with collectors and long-standing connections.
2020
Lea Schneider successfully completed her final apprenticeship examination and became a gold and silversmith. This makes her the 5th generation of Schneider-Rappel Gold and Silversmiths.
2022
In 5th generation Susanne Misslinger and Lea Schneider are taking over the family bsuiness, working hand in hand with the 4th generation, Arno and Anke. Co-creating and continuing the family atelier's legacy.
2022
Exhibitions in Amsterdam, Milano and Austria made 2022 a very special year. Meeting interesting people in wonderful places, while showing our art works, turned into precious memories,
2023
2023 haben wir uns unserem Atelier und Laden mit viel Liebe zugewandt und einige Restaurierungsarbeiten vorgenommen. Wir haben Projekte aus dem ereignisreichen Vorjahr abgeschlossen und andere gestartet. Das Thema des Jahres war unser Fundament auszubauen und dies ist uns gelungen.
2024
die Munich Jewellery Week war ein erfolgreicher Auftakt für das Jahr 2024. Intensiver Austausch und Kooperationen mit anderen Künstlern und Kreativen haben dieses Ereignis zu einem absoluten Highlight gemacht.
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