Biographical Notes & History of Rudolf Heltzel
1940
Born in Berlin, Germany
1956-1960
Studied at Meisterschule für das Kunsthandwerk Berlin, Jewellery and Silversmithing Design and Production
1961-1962
Worked with Max Olofs, as a silversmith in Munich Germany, making baptismal fonts, tabernacles, chalices, and other ecclesiastical items
1963-1965
Worked with Sigurd Person (1914-2003) in Stockholm, Sweden, first as a silversmith, then as a jeweller. Person was one of the most influential goldsmiths and industrial designers in Scandinavia in..Read More
1966-1968
Recruited by Córas Tráchtála/Irish Export Board to establish a Silver and Metal Workshop at the newly created Kilkenny Design Workshop [KDW], where he also trained many Irish jewellers
1968
Opened Rudolf Heltzel Ltd., Kilkenny. Independent designer and maker of jewellery hollowear with a studio in Kilkenny which continues to the present day
From 1979
International Consultant to jewellery development and production programmes in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Guyana, Jordan, Philippines, Indonesia and Pakistan
1981-1995
Board Member of Crafts Council Ireland
1984-1987
Worked with Tirnanog Ltd., Northern Ireland as a Production Director, lectured in the Fine Arts department at Queen’s University Belfast
1988-1996
Worked with Esmere Ltd and Avon Arlington Ireland as a Jewellery and Design Consultant
2018
Designed and produced Exhibition celebrating 50 years of Rudolf Heltzel “RUDOLF HELTZEL: In Precious Metal”, National Design & Craft Gallery, Castle Yard, Kilkenny, Ireland
2019
“RUDOLF HELTZEL: In Precious Metal”, The State Apartment Galleries, Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland
