Carrying on Cutting Traditions

By Bruce McKay

In a Western Germany valley between Frankfort and Luxembourg is the town Idar-Oberstein, the heart of the gemstone industry. Long past its glory days of being the main source of cut gems in the world, it remains home to some of the worlds finest gem cutters – gem cutters whose exceptional skills have passed down through the generation of families like the Roth Family of Idar- Oberstein.

One common thread among these specialized shops is the excellent quality of craftsmanship, something that has always set Idar-Oberstein apart from others. Among the finest examples of this tradition is the Roth Family.

Currently cameo carvers, the family members can trace their gem connections back to their great-great-grandfather Philipp Roth. An agate cutter, he passed his skills onto his son August Roth. Walter Roth, the son of August, learned to cut diamonds and was an esteemed diamond cutter from 1907 until 1957. That takes us to today’s cameo carving Roth’s, Dieter and his son Andreas.

Dieter began his apprenticeship with world-renowned gem engraver and cameo carver Richard Hahn. He worked at Hahn’s workshop for 15 years, achieving Master Craftsman status. In time, he began working for himself, carving agate cameos and engraving in stone.

Dieter came to be known for doing large agate cameos with multiple full figures, not just faces. His artistic credits include the largest gemstone cameo in the world, the Faust Without an End cameo. In addition, he has done themed series of cameos, such as a dozen large pieces with Biblical scenes. As the years went on, he worked in partnership with his son Andreas, and a few years ago he retired from working in his shop, turning over the family legacy to his son.

Idar-Oberstein used to have a School of Lapidary Arts where Andreas Roth studied and graduated. His test piece at the end of his apprenticeship was good enough to win first place in the Rhineland-Palatinatecompetition, and he has gone on to win other awards for his combination of skill and artistry. He continues to create pieces in the style of his father: based on a theme such as the story of life or scenes from classical history. But Andreas has begun to also do work that breaks from traditional style and expresses his modernsense of artistry, in combination with the finest craftsmanship. He accepts commissions such as doing a cameo based on a photograph or theme supplied by the customer. There are signs there may be another generation of Roth carver, as Andreas’ 12-year-old daughter comes into the workshop regularly to do her gem cutting.

The work of Dieter and Andreas can be seen in both the museums in Idar-Oberstein: the Deutsches Edelsteinmuseum and the Deutsches Mineralienmuseum. The Faust collection of fourteen cameos has toured Europe and makes it’s premier in the United States at the Lizzadro Museum this fall.

For more information about the Roth family of carvers, visit www.roth-cameo.com, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Roth-Cameo