Makers & Designers

Erich Frey was born in Dusseldorf, Germany. His apprenticeship under master goldsmith Hans Beckman was interrupted by wartime service and during this time he made buttons from scrap metal to supplement his income.

In 1952, he relocated to Pretoria, South Africa and in 1963 he and his wife established Erich Frey Jewellers.

He drew inspiration from local lanscapes, flora and African art and is known for integrating non-traditional materials such as wood, bone,ivory and semi-precious stones into his work. He collaborated with celebrated artists such as Walter Battiss, Alexis Preller and Esias Bosch who shared his modernist aesthetic.

In 1966, he helped establish the first degree course in precious metal design at the University of Stellenbosch, leaving a legacy which was a uniquely South African vernacular that continues to resonate today.

He returned to Germany in 1977 where he died from lung failure, likely exacerbated by long term exposure to industrial solvents used in metalwork.