Cooper Hewitt says...
Hilda Jesser studied at the Kunstschule für Frauen und Mädchen (School of Art for Women and Girls) in Vienna from 1914–17 first in the general course under architect Oskar Strnad and, in 1915 in the architecture program under Josef Hoffmann, where she concentrated on textile and fashion design. She started working at the Wiener Werkstätte in 1916 where she continued until 1922 under director Dagobert Peche. She proved to be one of the firm’s most versatile artists, designing works in a variety of media, including ceramics, commercial graphics, embroidery, glass, ivory, lace, lamps, leather, metalwork, postcards, toys, and wall paintings. She was especially noted for her painting skills though she only produced a small selection of ceramic designs. Her rare ceramic works generally share a restrained coloration and decoration, but often with innovative glazes and a special emphasis on function. Jesser assumed a teaching role at the Vienna Kunstgewerbeschule (School of Applied Arts) in 1922, and became a full professor in 1935. While forced to stop teaching by the Nazis in 1938, she resumed her position there in 1945.
