Franz Bette (b. 1941) studied gold- and silversmithing in the 1960s under Friedrich Becker. Consequently his early work is characterised by a ‘dynamic jewellery’ of his own interpretation – geometric forms that fit into each other yet remain moveable. For Franz Bette it is about imparting more lightness to jewellery, and over time he has continued to experiment, using ever thinner and more finely worked metal, even wire, which he bends and interlaces in order to hold the gemstones in place.
For Red X Thread Franz Bette has developed an entirely new work complex, which reflects his experiences in Asia. Since 1989 Bette has been a regular guest in Thailand, Hong Kong and Taiwan. He expands his ‘Western’ design vernacular, informed by the use of steel, silver, gold and plastic, with materials that have Asian connotations, such as porcelain, paper, bamboo, wood and textiles, all the while conscious of their traditional use and significance in Asia.
