Wilhelm Metzig

Biography

Trademarks, publicity, packaging. Born 1893 in Hannover. 1908-12: studied at the Hannover Handwerker- und Kunstgewerbeschule. 1912: designed first posters. Designed labels and signage for Pelikan Ink Company. 1939: emigrated to New York where he designed books and jackets for numerous publishers including Dutton, Messner, Punam, Lippincott. Died 1989.

Writings by

  • Heraldry for the designer, New York/London: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1969, 1971, 1983 (p/b).
  • Art, lettering and design, Scranton, PA: International Correspondence School, 1956

Writings about

  • packaging, Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., Feb. 1933, pp. 4-8
  • Pelikan-Graphos, Hannover: Günther Wagner, 1933
  • ‘Advertising designs by Metzig of Hanover’, Commercial Art, Aug. 1932, pp. 82-3
  • AD (U.S. journal), Aug./Sept. 1939 and June/July 1940
  • Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., Oct. 1935 (front and back covers)
  • Eberhard Hölscher, ‘The eternally young Pelican firm’ (logos, advertisements), Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., May 1956, pp. 16-25
    • H.K. Frenzel, ‘Wilhelm Metzig, Hannover’, Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., 1929, v. 10, pp. 47-50
  • H.K. Frenzel, ‘Wilhelm Metzig, Hannover’, Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., Sept. 1935, pp. 33-41
  • ‘Wilhelm Metzig[,] Hannover’, Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., Nov. 1936, pp. 50-53 (packaging, publicity material)
  • Eberhard Hölscher, Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., Jan. 1959, pp. 14-21 (Gg covers).

Collections

  • Doris and Henry Dreyfuss Memorial Study Center, Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, New York.