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Klaus Ihlenfeld manner welded Sculpture

Klaus Ihlenfeld sculpture 12 X 17 X 10 inches. it is either bronze brass or copper or some combination thereof. (this is being sold as "in the manner of" as we cannot find any signature) it does not appear to be signed. i am unsure how it stands or sits. it has legs on the back of it. mid century modern Eames Era piece. 1-30-1934 Born in Berlin, Germany. Father, Kurt Ihlenfeld, Lutheran pastor, novelist, critic and publisher was born in 1901 in Colmar, Elsass Lorain. Mother, Annie Stuhlmann, was born in 1905 in Breslau, Lower Silesia.

1940 - 1950 Public schools in Berlin; Löwen, Lower Silesia; Coswig, Radebeul, Glaubitz, Saxony. Königin Luise-Gymnasium in Dahlem, Berlin. First artworks, drawings and paintings; few sculptures.

1950 – 1956: Studied at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste in West Berlin, Germany. Graduate work with the metal sculptor Hans Uhlmann. For 2 years maintained own studio at the Academy. Friendship with the writer Günter Grass, and the painter F. S. Sonnenstern. Met the painters: Max Pechstein, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, Carl Hofer, Max Kaus, and the sculptors: Bernhard Heiliger, Renee Sintenis, and Richard Scheibe. Opened own gallery in the Kurfürstendam area of Berlin.

1954 Traveled to West Germany, France, Barcelona, Spain (Balearic Islands), and Menorca for 3 months.

1957 First visit to the United States in Durham, NC. Participated in a group show at the Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC. Friendship with Dr. W. R. Valentiner, the Rembrandt authority and Director of the Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC. Work with the metal sculptor Harry Bertoia in Bally, PA. Started own metal sculptures in Bertoia Studio. Traveled to Mexico and throughout the US. Visited Monte Alban, and Mitla-Oaxaca. Started collecting works of pre-Columbian art. Also African and South Pacific works of art and the works of children.
1958 Returned to West Berlin, Germany to open own workshop and gallery. Cooperation with his brother Bertram Ihlenfeld and brother-in-law, the violinist Heinz Ortleb. Precise metal sculptures in various medias.

1959: Motion picture of the development of sculptures: "Spiel in Stahl" (Play in Steel), filmed by Dr. Hans Cürlis shown at the Bergamo Film Festival in Italy, in West Germany, and German Embassies in South America.


1960 Second visit to the United States. Cooperation with the sculptor Harry Bertoia in Bally, PA. Friendship with Brigitta Valentiner Bertoia. Worked on large commissions. Met the painter Willem DeKoonig, the gallerist Georg W. Staempfli in New York City, and the furniture maker George Nakashima in New Hope, PA. First one-man show of sculptures at Kutztown State College, Kutztown, PA. One-man show of sculptures at the Allentown Museum of Art under Director Hirsch.

1961 Traveled and studied archeological sites in Mexico (Monte Alban, Mitla-Oaxaca; Colima, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Patzcuaro, etc.). Collected pre-Columbian art in Mexico and New York City. Second one-man show at the Allentown Museum of Art (sculptures) under Director Caldwell.

1962 One-man show at the Staempfli Gallery in New York City. Participated in various group shows at the Staempfli Gallery: "Twenty Sculptors" and "Recent Acquisitions". Met the artists Marcel Duchamp and Salvador Dali; the sculptors Alexander Calder and Alexander Lieberman. Participated in a major exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City entitled "Modern Sculpture from the Joseph H. Hirshhorn Collection".

1963 Married Patricia A. Lambert from Springfield, PA.

1964 One-man show at the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA and a group show "Stone, Wood and Metal" at the Staemplfi Gallery in New York City. First child, Paul Vincent born.

1965 Entered group show at the Staempfli Gallery "Stone and Crystal". One-man show of graphics at the Kutztown State Teachers College in Kutztown, PA. One-man show at Wyomissing Art Alliance, Reading, PA.

1966 Commissioned for a fountain sculpture at the Kutztown State Teachers College, Kutztown, PA. Birth of twins, Phillip Sydney and Naomi Andrea.

1967 Artist-in-Residence at the Bertha Eccles Art Center, Ogden, Utah (received a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts). Met the sculptor Larry Elsner. One-man show at the Mansfield State College, Mansfield, PA. Fourth child born, Douglas Robinson.

1968 – 1969: Commissioned to create a large relief sculpture for the Emigrant Savings Bank at 5 East 42nd Street in Manhattan, New York City entitled: "Heavenly Bodies", 250 ft. X 32 ft. (weighing 8 tons). Moved to the estate "Iron Masters Mansion", Barto, PA.
1970 - 1971 Artist-in-Residence at the Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, WV (received a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts). One-man show at the Huntington Museum of Art. A movie was made of the exhibition by the Huntington Television Station. Met A. Moretti, sculptor of glass figures. One-man show at the old Sears and Roebuck mansion in Haverford, PA.

1971 – 1972: Artist-in-Residence at the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (received a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts). Classes for drawing and experimental sculpture. One-man show at the Chambers Building and the Hetzel Union Building. Also Artist-in-Residence at the Shippensburg State College, Shippensburg, PA. Commissioned to execute a sculpture for the new Library at the Shippensburg State College. Death of father, Kurt Ihlenfeld.

1973 Invitation to lecture and work with sculpture classes at the Colorado State University, Denver, Colorado. One-man show at the Albright College, Reading, PA.

1974 - 1976 Years of increased studies and work. Acquisition of a farm in Barto, PA. Built a new workshop. Works and lives with his wife and four children at the Barto, PA farm. New sculptures in iron, bronze, brass and wood. Traveled to Belgium, West Germany and Switzerland. One-man show at Gallery Heimat 85, West Berlin, Germany. One-man show at the Ianuzzi Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona. Friendship with the sculptor Tom Althouse and the paintress Jane Mitchell.

1977 - 1981 Traveled to West Berlin. Works exhibited at Gallery Heimat 85, West Berlin. Also exhibited at Gallery Ludwig Lange. New workshop opened at parent's house in West Berlin. Many sculptures in steel, iron and bronze, some are represented at the Gallery Herbert Remmert and Dr. Barth, Düsseldorf, West Germany. Visited the Island of Korfu in Greece. New graphics. First visit to Italy. A fire at the farm destroyed two buildings, also 38 sculptures (created from 1950 to 1979), reliefs, graphics, correspondences, and various art collections.

1981 - 1984 One-man show and group shows at the Jack Savitt Gallery, Macungie, PA. One-man show at the Misericordia College, Dallas, PA.

1984 – 1985: Change of direction. Painting in watercolor dominates sculptural work. Also greater interest in collecting other artists' work. One-man show at the James A. Caplan estate in Villanova, PA.
1989 Represented in the June 1989 Colonial Homes magazine. The article and photographs described the artist's life and his collections.

1992 Traveled to Europe, mainly living and working in Germany and Belgium. One-man show in Liegé, Belgium. Sculptures, drawings and paintings shown at the Heinz Ortleb Gallery, Berlin. Death of mother, Annie Ihlenfeld, in Berlin.

1994 - 1996 Restored a large barn at the farm with his son Phillip for extensive art collections and completed sculptures. Created sculpture garden at farm.

1996 Created many new bronze and brass sculptures during the winter months. Participated in the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce Sculpture Show. Study tour to Bermuda with his wife. The semi-tropical plants and landscapes inspired new works.

1997: Traveled, study-tour, to St. Lucia, near Martinique, in the West Indies with his wife. This tropical environment was most inspiring. Participated in the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce Sculpture Show at the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown from June 13 to September 7, 1997.

1998 Entered the Berks County Art Alliance juried art show in the fall at the Reading Art Museum, Reading, PA.

1999 Travels and studies with family members of ruins near Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico (Monte Alban, Mitla, Dainzu, Teotitlan del Valle, Lambityeco, San Jose El Mogote, Yagul), the Rufino Tamayo Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, and the Regional Museum of Anthropology in Oaxaca City, in May. This is one of the most productive years in metal sculpting - forged iron and steel (many large scale works) all welded, new watercolors and art acquisitions.

2000 Sculptures entered in the Baum School Art Auction, Allentown, PA. Sculptures sold at David Rago Auctions in Lambertville, NJ.


2001 Entered a group show of sculpture and paintings at the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center, Pennsburg, PA. Continues to create new sculptures in iron, bronze, brass and wood. Also has continued to produce a wide variety of watercolor & other graphics large and small.

2002 Study tour to the Key West, Cozumel, Tulum, Belize and Nassau. Continues to produce many sculptures in bronze and iron.

2003 - 2004 Visited Niagara Falls, the Finger Lakes, Thousand Islands, Rockport, Maine and Concord, Massachusetts. Many inspirations for water colors and sculptures. Many sculptures sold at David Rago Auctions in Lambertville, NJ and Alderfer Auctions in Hatfield, PA.

2005 – present: Exploring Maryland during the summer. First grandchild born in July which was an extraordinary event. Painting many watercolors and continuing to work in forged iron. In addition, Continues to sell many sculptures & graphics at David Rago Auctions in Lambertville, NJ http://www.ragoarts.com/ , ebay.com online auctions http://www.ebay.com/ , KlausIhlenfeld.com http://www.klausihlenfeld.com/ , and home … at the "Farm" in Barto, Pennsylvania.


Partial List of Collections Entered in the US and Europe
The Late Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller, Albany, NY
Joseph H. Hirshhorn, Washington, DC
Cultural Ambassador, Dr. Bruno E. Werner, Washington, DC
J. David Thompson, Pittsburgh, PA
Billy Wilder, Hollywood, CA
Ambassador Ferguson, Washington, DC
Dr. W. R. Valentiner, Raleigh, NC
Harry Bertoia and Brigitta Valentiner Bertoia, Barto, PA
David Steine, New York City
William A. and Muriel Rand, New York City
Robert Sarnoff, Jr., New York City
Georg W. Staempfli Gallery, New York City
Neiman Marcus, Dallas, TX
Sol Brody, Philadelphia, PA
Jack and Muriel Wolgin, Philadelphia, PA
Phillip and Muriel Berman, Allentown, PA
James Caplan, Villanova, PA
Anatol Holt, Milan, Italy
Houston Scott, Newport, RI
Mara Ianuzzi Gallery, Scottsdale, AR
Bertram Ihlenfeld, Monterey, CA
Interstate Container Corporation, New York City
Robert Forsyth, Denver, CO
Dr. Howard Sokol, Pottstown, PA
Dr. Spencer Richmond, Pottstown, PA
Jon Harris Insurance Company, New York City
American Republic Insurance Company, New York City
Larry Katz, Philadelphia, PA
Curtis Brooks, Connecticut
Dr. Jerry Dersch, Reading, PA
Frank Mininni, Cincinnati, OH
Jack Savitt Gallery, Macungie, PA
Pearl Fox Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Morris and Robin Satinsky, Villanova, PA
Hans Newman, Caracas, Venezuela
Dr. Emile Leclercq, Liegé, Belgium
Chester A. Beatty, London, England
The Laventhol Family, California
Wolfgang Boetcher, Berlin, Germany
Peter Oettel, Berlin, Germany

Partial List of Collections Entered in the US and Europe
Heinz and Christa Ortleb, Berlin, Germany
Rainer Mehne, Berlin, Germany
Walter Schellow, Berlin Germany
Wolf-Dietrich Schnurre, Berlin, Germany
Horst Buchhoeltz, Berlin, Germany
Kilian and Herwiga Klann, Berlin, Germany
Wolfgang Strankowski, Berlin, Germany
Everhard Museum of Art, Scranton, PA
Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA
Jane Hartman, Wyndmoor, PA
Misericordia College, Dallas, PA
West Palm Beach Company, New York City

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