Furrerswil – Birthplace of Welti-Furrer Business and of Artist Albert Welti
This woodcut by Fritz Urban Welti is one of a series commissioned by the Welti family transport business, Welti-Furrer, of which Fritz Urban’s grandfather was a founder. It was a special edition for cards sent to clients in 1953 to announce the sale of the old family Homestead, known as Furrerswil. We do not have any signed originals of this print, but do have multiple of the cards. The text notes that the business is leaving, with nostalgia, its original home in Furrerswil, and notes that head of the company had been born in the house, as were all his brother’s and sisters, and that the house was also the birthplace of famed Swiss symbolist artist Albert Welti.
Zurich 1901 - Zollikon 1974
Fritz Urban Welti was a painter and a master of the woodcut print. He was born in Zurich in 1901 and died in Zollikon near Zurich in 1974. He studied in Cologne, Vienna and Paris and was well known for his book illustrations. He was the nephew of the famous Swiss symbolist artist Albert Welti.
The Woodcuts on this page were executed as commissions for the Welti family transport business, Welti-Furrer, of which Fritz Urban's grandfather was a founder.
There is a very old tradition in Switzerland that companies and societies give a print ((Neujahrsblatt) to their clients and associates at New Years. Welti created these "New Years Print " engravings for the company beginning in the early 1930s. In some years a second card was also created that could be used as a birthday card for clients.
We are pleased to be able to offer signed limited editions, handprinted by the artist, of some of the woodblock prints below.
