Berthold Hoffmann

Metalworker

©Berthold Hoffmann

©Lars Harmsen

©Berthold Hoffmann

©Lars Harmsen

Craftsmanship in the kitchen

Berthold’s cast iron pans weigh around 8kg
His fondue set was recognised in the German Design Awards 2016
A new pan design prototype may take 50 hours to make

The longstanding tradition of goldsmithing and silversmithing in the city of Nuremberg and the excellent training at the Academy of Fine Arts Nuremberg had a deep impact on Berthold Hoffmann. His teachers opened his eyes to the profession’s creative potential and the year before he graduated in 1986 he decided to open his own workshop. Today, Berthold is renowned for designing and making award-winning cast iron cooking pots and pans, fondue sets and tabletop grills. He has exhibited in Europe and the US and has won all the important design prices in Germany – the latest was the German Design Awards 2016, where his fondue set Konus won the category recognising excellence in product design for the kitchen.

Interview

©Kathrin Koschitzki

©Lars Harmsen

Has any moment in your career stood out?: I've always felt so honoured to be invited to international exhibitions. In 2010, I exhibited at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. During the opening evening, a couple visited my booth and decided to buy all the displayed items straight away – before the exhibition had even started!
How do you balance tradition and innovation?: The manual production process and my training with a master is connected to tradition and I highly appreciate that part of craftsmanship. However, the minimalist design of my cast iron cooking objects is as much dedicated to innovation, since I use digital techniques whenever possible.
What inspires your style?: Good architecture is my passion, especially early Romanesque architecture as well as Etruscan culture and objects. I’m very interested in Hellenistic pottery and the history and design of European household appliances since the Middle Ages. Researching always leads to new design ideas.
Do you work alone or as part of a team?: It's not possible to practise my craft alone. My part of the process involves designing from scratch, preparing the copper mock-up and then finishing the object after the casting process. The moulding itself takes place at the famous Neumarkter Eisengießerei and is pure teamwork.

Berthold Hoffmann is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1979