On 21 November, the German craft sector marked a monumental milestone. For the first time ever, The German Crafts Association (BK) (Bundesverband Kunsthandwerk) presented the German Crafts Award.
The inaugural main prize of 5,000€ was awarded to Steffen Lang, a goldsmith from Saarbrücken who has pushed his discipline into new territory. Lang was selected for his ability to fuse metal with hand-melted glass. Using traditional lampworking techniques, he creates intricate, organic structures that resemble natural microcosms like moss and coral, work that the jury noted moves fluidly “from craft to art.”
Three special recognitions were also awarded, highlighting the diversity of the selection:
- Imke Ganteför (Saddler) for her purist, reversible belt buckles crafted from silver and bronze.
- Stefanie Prießnitz (Jewellery) for her “Cloud Brooches,” a series inspired by the view of landscapes from a hot air balloon.
- Aenne Steffens (Product Design) for “Zisou,” a stackable ensemble of mouth-blown glass and blue porcelain praised for its sustainable use of resources.
The award is the highlight of the German Crafts Collection 2025, an exhibition of 54 works by 30 selected makers currently on display at the Handwerksform Hannover until 14 December.
The ECA is proud to support this historic new award as part of the CraftsNet project, co-funded by the EU.