Hans APPENZELLER (Netherlands b. 1949)
In 1969, after completing his studies at the Rietveld Academie, Hans Appenzeller and Lous Martin open the first Dutch jewellery gallery in Amsterdam aptly named “Galerie Sieraad” (Jewellery Gallery). Alongside his own work, some twenty other contemporary Dutch jewellery designers are on permanent show at the gallery.

The 60s quickly see Galerie Sieraad become a cutting-edge location for young jewellery designers to show their work. Appenzeller himself works mainly with aluminium and rubber, constantly larking back to the theme of “wearablitiy”.

In 1974 Appenzeller opens his own shop. Applicability remains the main focus within his designs, which are shown at fashion shows and at various exhibitions, namely the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.

In 1983 Appenzeller moves to New York and opens shops on both Madison Avenue and West Broadway in Soho. Perhaps struggling to keep shops on two continents, Appenzeller returns to Amsterdam in 1991 and organises a retrospective show of his work dating back to 1969.

Today he remains on Grimburgwal 1 in the centre of Amsterdam and continues to push boundaries of contemporary jewellery.

Appenzeller’s jewellery can be found in several museums in The Netherlands amongst which, the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Centraal Museum Utrecht, Stedelijk Museum Den Bosch, CODA Museum Apeldoorn and Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem.