35

The firm was headed by Hugo Berger (thus the name HuGO BERGer). In

The Studio

Year-Book of Decorative Art

published in

1909, there is the small bit about Berger:

―

Berger, Hugo, Schmalkalden, Thuringia.

Herr Berger designs and executes metal-

work, mostly in hammered wrought-iron,

brass and copper. Some of his designs

display considerable originality, and the

workmanship is always good.

‖

Here are

some examples of his craftsmanship.

Most of the products from Goberg were made of iron and steel and included smoking

accessories, candlesticks, boxes, etc. Pressed steel standard and interchangeable parts

were used in different combinations to create new designs which were finished by

hand. In the United Kingdom, Liberty & Company imported Goberg

Metallwarenfrabrik products from about 1905 to 1920

Goberg pig and a Chinese knockoff (right).

In 1903, Hugo Berger registered a design

in Germany for a tool kit having different

tools that slide into a groove inside the

handle.