Rekeyed from the New York Times (May 1957)
Creator of Plaques on R.C.A. Building Has Ornamented Bible Given to Leo XIII
Oscar Bruno Bach, metallurgist and designer, whose work adorns the exteriors and interiors of many buildings in New York and other cities, died yesterday in Mount Sinai Hospital after a brief illness. His age was 72.
Mr. Bach, who was known for metal sculpture in the Rockefeller Center area, maintained a studio in La Maison Francaise, 610 Fifth Avenue. His residence was at 962 Fifth Avenue.
Eighteen years ago, Mr. Bach developed a process for giving color, corrosive and abrasive resistance to ferrous metals. Many examples of this work have been used on the exteriors of buildings.
Beside huge plaques on the RCA Building, Mr. Bach's designs are on the Empire State Building, The Airlines Building, 80 East Forty-second Street, the Bank of the Manhattan Company (now Chase Manhattan) at 40 Wall Street and the New York Trust Company Building at 100 Broadway.
Did Work for Ships
His earlier work included metal designs for the United States Lines ships Washington and Manhattan. His interior designs are to be found in Riverside Church, Yale University, The Toledo (Ohio) Museum of Art and other museums.
Mr. Bach's metal-designing also has a practical turn, which was developed through his association with Remington-Rand, Inc.; Manning, Bowman & Co.; the Edward Budd Manufacturing Company, Oneida, Ltd. the Baldwin Locomotive Works, the American Radiator Company and the Tappan Stove Company. He maintained his own laboratory and also was president of the Oscar B. Bach Studios, Inc.
Born in Breslau, Germany, Mr. Bach studied at the Catholic Higher Gymnasium there from 1890 to 1898. He continued his studies at the Imperial Academy of Art in Berlin until 1902. At the age of 20 he began his career as a designer of metallic architecture and sculpture in Berlin, mostly for the German, British and Italian Governments.
Designed Bible for Pope
One of his early commissions was to design an ornamental Bible for the British Government, for presentation to Pope Leo XIII. It has become one of the treasures of the Vatican Museum, with its metal binding encrusted with jewels and precious stones.
Mr. Bach came to the United States in 1913 and became a citizen thirteen years later.
One of the outstanding sculptures is the eleven foot bronze statue "The Spirit of Democracy" designed in 1939. It is on the seventh floor terrace of the building in which Mr. Bach's studio is located.
Mr. Bach received the gold medal for native industrial design and craftsmanship from the Architectural League of New York.
Surviving is his widow, Pauline.