[Theatre] Obronski, Impekoven & Cie Theatermaler & Ateliers für Theater-Decorationen

Berlin, early 20th cent., collection of approx. 140 orig. (shaped) stage designs in col. gouache and watercol., most obl. folio sized but also incl. many smaller shaped pieces to fit in the larger designs, mostly on stiff paper w. fittings at the back/ metal pins for hanging the designes in a miniature theatre (also several loose metal sticks preserved), w. annotations/ numbers recto or verso, together w. 10 folio-sized printed floor plans of the stage of the Stadttheater in Nürnberg with details on how to place the parts of the stage decorations, and 15 separate titles of plays (all but a few letterpress and folio-sized), the collection kept in 3 modern ringbinders.

A marvelous collection of finely executed original designs for all kinds of plays, giving a great insight into stage decoration in Germany in the early 20th cent., with the characteristics of a trade catalogue. With an envelope with printed address of Obronski, Impekoven & Cie, a few designs with their stamped address verso. Some letterpress titles: "Renaissance-Saal. 63", "Granada-Gegend. 77", "Nachtlager", "Römische Strasse. 135", "Rennbahn. 220", "Schlachtfeld. 143", "Prophet. Zelt. 18", "Schneelandschaft. 17", "Einsturzdeck. 22", "Aida. Grosse Oper von Verdi" and "Sonnentempel. 38". A few of the captions on the designs themselves: "Waldbogen 23. 23/ III", "Waldbogen IIe 23/IV", "Zauberflöte Katakomben 33 Bogen no. I" (number II and the backscreen also present), "Nachtlager von Granada 78 Bog. I" (with several other parts of that particular scene), "Schlachtfeldprospect", "15 "Prophet" I Gegend bei Leyden" (showing a mill and an old building), "15/I "Prophet Gegend bei Leyden Hängebaum", "Prophet Schneedekoration" (several designs, also with large fold. floor plan of Stadttheater Nürnberg titled "22. Prohet"), for the play "Aïda", situated in Egypt, a number of impressive designs (the "Sonnentempel" and "Nilgegend") and a few floor plans are preserved. (total approx. 165 in 3 ringbinders)