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  Wilhelm Schmidt / Prag Rudnicker Vienna Secession / Arts & Crafts stool c. 1902

  WILHELM SCHMIDT (b. 1880) Austria
  PRAG-RUDNICKER KORBWAREN-FABRIKATION Austria

  Vienna arts & crafts stool c. 1902

  Oak, rattan

  Illustrated: Das Interieure III “Wiener Kunst im Hause Exhibition”, Wien, 1902, p. 169; Prag-Rudnicker Korbwaren-Fabrikation Catalog, 1902/1903, No. 508. Korbmöbel, Eva B. Ottillinger (Salzburg: Residenz Verlag, 1990) p. 106, illus. no. 99, Moderne Vergangenheit Wien 1800-1900 (Vienna: Künstlerhaus, 1981) p. 271;

  H: 19 1/2″ x W: 19″ x D: 17 5/8″

  Price: $4,800

  Wilhelm Schmidt was one of a number of avant-garde designers, along with M.H. Baillie Scott, Peter Behrens, and Henry van de Velde, who incorporated the traditional material of rattan, or wicker, into their furniture designs during the early part of the century. For this stool, the Viennese designer used rattan in the much same way that a furniture maker of his day would have used upholstery on seating furniture. It provides a supportive, yet yielding and therefore comfortable seat.

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  Charles Catteau / Boch Freres Keramis Belgium Glazed pottery vase c. 1930

  CHARLES CATTEAU (1880-1966)
  BOCH FRERES KERAMIS  La Louviere Belgium

  Tulip vase c. 1930

  Glazed earthenware

  Marks: “Keramis” Made in Belgium , D. 2524 B, 945

  H: 10 1/4″ x D: 6 1/2″

  Charles Catteau could be regarded as one of the most versatile ceramic artists of his generation, especially for the style of Art Deco. Catteau advanced the forms, techniques and decoration of modern ceramics, creating an exceptionally original, new and decorative genre.

  Hired as a ceramic decorator in Ecole Nationale de Sèvres from 1903 to 1904, he began producing designs that were rather traditional, based on the observation of nature, and showing the influence of Japonisme, characterized by pure lines and meticulous details. From 1904 to 1906, he worked in Nymphenburg Porzellan Manufaktur near Munich, a factory specializing in new hand painting procedures under a slip, as well as Art Nouveau.

  In 1907  he finally moved to Louvière in Belgium where he was promoted to head of the decoration department at Boch Freres Keramis at the age of 27.  This is where most of his exceptional talent came to the fore especially during the period between the two World Wars. Influenced by the great creative art movements of the time (Africanism, Japonisme, Cubism, Abstraction) and his observation of nature gave him inspiration for his designs, with the  integration of  plants, stylized animals and geometric motifs. The international avant-garde movements were also an influence leading to his use of purely abstract, geometric designs and intense colors. Charles Catteau was incredibly resourceful and  explored various harmonies of form, techniques, designs, colors, shades, topics, variants and influences. In this way Catteau became a representative par excellence of Art Deco designs, giving it his personal touch. He was instrumental in introducing technical innovations during the 20’s and 30’s to aid mass production of ceramic products and expand availability of affordable products. During difficult times in Europe, he created vivid, colorful, original and uplifting ceramic wares.

  Charles Cotteau motto was “Art for All” and he also taught decorative painting at the School of Industrial in Louvière. In 1925 he obtained international recognition in the exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris. which helped raise the profile of Boch Freres. He remained at the company until he retired to Nice in 1946 .