Monumental Bernhard Rohne Acid-Etched Brass Masterwork for Baker, 1971

An extraordinary monumental work by German-Canadian artist Bernhard Rohne, created in 1971 and representing one of the most ambitious known examples of his distinctive acid-etched metalwork.

Commissioned by Baker Furniture for the entrance of one of its flagship showrooms, the work was conceived on an architectural scale and later became associated with the sophisticated metalwork aesthetic Rohne developed for Baker’s Mastercraft collection. According to Rohne himself, this is one of only two works of this scale that he produced during his career.

The composition consists of four individually hand-finished panels of oxidized brass mounted to a wood substrate. Rohne employed his highly specialized acid-etching and oxidation techniques to create an extraordinarily complex surface in which drawn lines, chemical reactions, metallic coloration and areas of apparent depth merge into a single panoramic composition.

Viewed from a distance, the work has the presence of an immense abstract landscape. At closer range, an extraordinary vocabulary of imagery emerges: mechanical forms, circuitry, architectural structures, biomorphic passages and enigmatic symbols appear and disappear within layers of bronze, copper, gold, violet, blue and black. The imagery feels simultaneously industrial, archaeological and futuristic, giving the work an almost cinematic science-fiction quality while retaining the mysterious, alchemical character for which Rohne's work is admired.

The sheer density of the surface rewards prolonged viewing. Fine etched lines coexist with broad passages of oxidation and luminous metallic coloration, creating an unusual sense of depth and movement across the brass. Depending upon the direction and intensity of the light, different elements emerge from the composition and the metal itself appears to change character.

The four panels are unified within a substantial custom frame finished in espresso lacquer and designed to mount securely to the wall with French cleats. Despite its monumental dimensions, the horizontal format gives the work an exceptionally architectural presence and makes it particularly suited to a significant residential, corporate, hospitality or institutional interior.

Hand-signed and dated “Bernhard Rohne 1971.”

A unique work and an exceptional surviving example of Rohne working beyond the scale of decorative furniture and into the realm of monumental architectural art.

Provenance: Commissioned by Baker Furniture for a flagship showroom.
Signed and dated by the artist is the lower left quadrant as seen in the photos. 

 According to Rohne himself this is one of only two pieces that he made this large over the course of his career as an artist.

Includes a digitial visualization of how it may have looked in the Baker showroom in 1971.