Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alexander Koch
Designation:  
Born: 9 September 1860
Died: 5 January 1939
Bio Notes: Alexander Koch was born in Cologne on 9 September 1860. Unlike his Swiss-born namesake he was a publisher rather than an architect from the beginning. He trained as a printer and commenced business in 1888 as the publisher-editor of 'Tapetenzeitung', a magazine for the carpet trade. This quickly grew into Verlagsanstalt Alexander Koch which published journals on art, interior decoration, furniture and architecture. These were highly progressive and hugely influential and included 'Fachblatt für Innen-Dekoration' (1890 onwards) and 'Deutsche Kunst und Dekoration' (1897 onwards). Throughout the first half of his career Koch had the support of Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse from 1892 to 1918, founder of the artists' colony at Mathildenhöhe, Darmstadt, in 1899.

In 1901 the Grand Duke promoted a major exhibition at Darmstadt for which Koch was publisher. This included Glasgow School work, as did the Turin exhibition of 1902 for which Koch was adviser. Koch is of particular importance in a Scottish context as sponsor of the Haus eines Kunstfreundes (House for an Art-Lover) competition of 1901 which was advertised in 'Innen-Dekoration' and published as 'Meister der Innenkunst', edited by Hermann Muthesius. It brought the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott to the notice of a much wider continental audience.

Koch died at Darmstadt on 5 January 1939. In his later publications he was assisted by a son of the same name.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2Darmstadt, GermanyBusiness 5 January 1939 
Item 2 of 2Cologne, GermanyPrivate1860  

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Grove Dictionary of Art Grove Dictionary of Art