The love of detail inscribed in Jugendstil architecture

The matrimonial tower, or Hochzeitsturm, was erected in honor of grand duke Ernst Ludwig's wedding to Princess Eleanor of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich in Darmstadt, Germany. It was designed by Joseph Maria Olbrich who had already designed the Secession Palace in Vienna. As teacher in the city, he joined the Mathildenhöhe artist colony. This name refers to a group of Artists of Jugendstil of the early 20th century.

In their quest for architectural innovations and decorative modernism, this movement advocates a harmony between architecture, furniture and decoration, every detail being important and part of the artistic approach.

The detail of the matrimonial tower door is an example of the slow transition from art nouveau to art deco and shows the emergence of a desire for symmetry to distinguish itself from the "noodle" style.

The discovery of this wrought iron door gave me the idea of the structure of this yellow gold ring with an emerald in the center.

(Photo: Gate of the matrimonial tower of the artists' colony Mathildenhhe of Darmstadt)