WOLFGANG KREIDL (1906-1972) Dresden, Germany
MAX ROESLER FEINSTEINGUTFABRIK A.G. Germany
“Darmstadt” charger c. 1930
Brown, orange and cream glazed earthenware with a triangle and circle airbrush design, on stand
Marks: Max Roesler Rodach (shield mark), 9, 2925, 6239 1 (under the glaze)
Model illustrated: Keramiken der Neuen Sammlung im Internationalen Keramik-Museum Weiden, Hans Wichmann, (Munich: Staatliches Museum für angewandte Kunst, 1990), cover image and p. 65; Design Contra Art Déco: 1927-1932 Jahrfünft der Wende, Hans Wichman (Munich: Prestel Verlag, 1993), p. 101.
For more information about Wolfgang Kreidel and other models with matching air brush design see: Max Roesler, Keramik zwischen Jugendstil und Art Deco, Rolf Peters (Darmstadt: Museum Künstlerkolonie Darmstadt, 1998), p. 98-102.
Dia: 12 5/8”
FRITZ AUGUST BREUHAUS DE GROOT (1883-1960) Germany
WMF [WÜRTTEMBERGISCHE METALLWARENFABRIK] Geislingen, Germany
Pair of candlesticks c. 1930
Chrome and bakelite spheres
Marks: WMF mark, VERCHROMT
Related designs illustrated: Metallkunst: Kunst vom Jugendstil zur Moderne (1889-1939), Karl H. Bröhan, Band IV (Berlin: Bröhan-Museum, 1990) n. 608 p. 570; Modernist Design 1880-1940, Alastair Duncan, The Norwest Collection (Woodbridge, Suffolk: The Antique Collectors’ Club, 1998), p. 173; WMF Ikora Metall / Metalwork, Carlo Burschel and Heinz Scheiffele (Stuttgart, Germany: ARNOLDSCHE, 2006) p. 192
H: 12 3/4″
Price: $4,200
WILHELM WAGENFELD (1900-1990) Germany
WMF [Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik] Geislingen, Germany
Tazza c. 1935
Hexagonal green-tinted lead crystal covered dish / tazza with lid in a stepped jewel-like form mounted with a silver lid and footed base silver
Marks: WMF logo, moon, crown, 800
For more information see: Wilhelm Wagenfeld und die Moderne Glasindustrie,Walter Scheiffele (Stuttgart: Verlag Gerd Hatje, 1994); WMF Ikora Metall / Metalwork, Carlo Burschel and Heinz Scheiffele (Stuttgart, Germany: ARNOLDSCHE, 2006).
H: 5 1/4″ x D: 7″ x W: 7″
Price: $3,500
MARIANNE BRANDT (1893-1983) Germany
METALLWARENFABRIK RUPPELWERK Gotha, Germany
Paper holder c. 1930
Black enameled and nickeled metal, hinged ball weight, ball feet
Marks: RUPPEL (in a circle), mehrfach geschützt
Illustrated: Die Metall Werkstatt am Bauhaus, (Berlin: Bauhaus-Archiv, Museum für Gestaltung, 1992) pp. 181-3;
H: 1 5/8” x W: 5 1/4” x D: 4”
Napkin holder c. 1930
Black enameled metal and nickeled base
Marks: RUPPEL (in a circle), mehrfach geschützt, 85/4440/37, Ruv 5 (numbers in red crayon)
H: 3 ¾” x W: 5” x D: 2 1/8”
For other works by Brandt for Metallwarenfabrik Ruppelwerk see: Die Metall Werkstatt am Bauhaus, (Berlin: Bauhaus-Archiv, Museum für Gestaltung, 1992) pp. 180-183; Die Metall Werkstatt am Bauhaus, (Berlin: Bauhaus-Archiv, Museum für Gestaltung, 1992) pp. 181-3; Avantgarde Design 1880-1930, Torsten Bröhan, Thomas Berg (Cologne: Benedikt Taschen, 1994) p. 105.
F.W. QUIST Esslingen, Germany
Ball ashtray “Smokny”
Nickel plated metal and black lacquered surface
Marks: Quist (on bottom)
H: 3 1/2″
The hardwarefactory F.W.Quist, Esslingen, Germany was founded 1868 as „Lackier- und Metallwaarenfabrik“ from the turner and metal-turner Jacob Schweizer, jun.. In the year 1872, the conversion of the business from a public company occurred, the “Actien-Plaqué Fabrik”. From 1890, the director and shareholders Friedrich Wilhelm Quist took over the business as alone-owner. In his succession four generations continued the business as family-businesses until 1981.
The business always stood for the manufacture more representatively props in the taste of the time. „Tischkultur, Gastlichkeit, Geschenkkultur dienten als Felder, einen gehobenen, verfeinerten Lebensstil zu dokumentieren und das unabhängig von der gesellschaftlichen Zugehörigkeit.“ (Served table-culture, hospitality, gift-culture as fields should document lifestyle, independently of the social affiliation) (Esslingen 2004, S.60)
So, the form of the 1970 as newness presented ball-ashtray was borrowed this famous „ball“ or „globe“ (presented for the first time, 1966 at the international furniture-fair in Cologne) and „bubble“ (1968) chairs by the finish designer Eero Aarnio. The completely new and unconventional shape, Aarnio developed on basis of the simplest geometrical form, the ball. It advanced to a cult-object of the following decade and didn’t lose anything modernity until today.
STEINGUTFABRIKEN VELTEN-VORDAMM Werk Velten, Germany
Vase c. 1920
Handpainted and glazed earthenware
Marks: VELTEN-VORDAMM company logo, 42
Similar work illustrated: Keramik und Bauhaus, Klaus Weber et al., exhib. cat. (Berlin: Bauhaus-Archiv, 1989), p. 229, illus. 289.
H: 7″
MARIANNE BRANDT (1893-1983) Germany
METALLWARENFABRIK RUPPELWERK Gotha, Germany
Napkin holder 1930-32
Salmon enameled metal napkin holder in a triangular form
Marks: RUPPEL (in a circle) mehrfach geschützt
Illustrated: Avantgarde Design 1880-1930, Torsten Bröhan, Thomas Berg (Cologne: Benedikt Taschen, 1994) p. 105.
For other works by Brandt for Metallwarenfabrik Ruppelwerk see: Die Metall Werkstatt am Bauhaus, (Berlin: Bauhaus-Archiv, Museum für Gestaltung, 1992) pp. 180-183; Die Metall Werkstatt am Bauhaus, (Berlin: Bauhaus-Archiv, Museum für Gestaltung, 1992) pp. 181-3;
H: 5 1/8” x W: 8 3/8” x Base D: 3 3/8”
JAN ET JOËL MARTEL (1896-1966) France
PRIMAVERA Paris
Pair of courting Faintail Pigeon Sculptures c.1925-30
Black glazed earthenware with silver / platinum decorative dot motif.
Marks: PRIMAVERA FRANCE, 12684
For related model: The Art Deco Style in Household Objects, Architecture, Scupture, Graphics, Jewelry, Theodore Menten (New York: Dover, 1972), p. 179.
For more information see: Joël et Jan Martel: sculpteurs 1896-1966, Christophe Vital, et al. (Paris: Gallimard / Electa, 1996), pp. 127-9
H: 8 1/16” x L: 9” x D at tail: 5 1/4”
H: 7 1/8” x L: 10” x D at tail: 5 1/4”
Jan & Joël Martel (the Martel Brothers/Twins, born in Nantes on 5 April 1896, both died in 1966)
The twin Martel sculptors were among the founding members of Union des Artistes Modernes, and their original works include ornamental sculptures, statues, monuments and fountains displaying characteristics typical of the Art Déco and Cubist periods. The brothers took part in a number of Paris exhibitions including the Salon des Indépendants, Salon d’Automne, Salon des Tuileries and the Exposition des Arts Décoratifs in 1925. In 1932, they created the Claude Debussy monument which sits on the boulevard Lannes in Paris. Between 1924-1926, Robert Mallet-Stevens designed a studio for the Martel twins at 10 Rue Mallet-Stevens in Paris’ 16th Arrondissement.
WOLFGANG GESSL (b. 1949) Austria / Sweden
Teapot 1990
Hand wrought and hand hammered spherical silver teapot with cylindrical handle and spout elements, maple and padouk wood layered arching handle
This is No. 2 out of the edition of 3 models.
Marks: Wolfgang Gessl (script impressed signature), 2/3, WO.GE (in a rectangle), Swedish assay mark for Stockholm, 925 (silver guarantee in a rectangle), E11 (in a rectangle), LF
Exhibited: Glänsande Geometri, Mettalum, Stockholm, Sweden
Illustrated: Gold and Silversmith Wolfgang Gessl: Exceeding Geometry, Kerstin Wickman, p. 16.
H: 10” x W: 16 ½” x D: 5 ½”
Price: $32,000
Wolfgang Gessl was born in 1949 in Vienna, Austria and trained as a goldsmith with Professor Hans Angerbauer. Upon moving to Sweden, Gessl studied under the eminent silversmith Sigurd Persson at Konstfack, the National University of Art, Craft and Design in Stockholm, Sweden.
Wolfgang Gessl has had fifteen solo exhibitions including shows at The National Museum, Stockholm and The Royal College of Art in London. His metalwork has been widely exhibited in Sweden, Europe and the U.S and his pieces can be found in many private collections throughout the world. He has taught at Konstfack for more than twenty-four years, and continues to live and work in Stockholm.
KISHIMOTO KENNIN (b. 1934), Japan.
Monumental “Iga” vase, circa 1995.
Hand thrown and handbuilt stoneware vase with a natural ash glaze in rich salmon rust, celadon, grey and black glaze
H: 20″ x Dia: 22″
Price: $20,000
1934 born in Nagoya 1953–1955 attends college in Nagoya 1960 moves to Mino, Gifu Prefecture 1965 establishes his own studio 1970 builds an anagama in Mikuni-Sanroku, where he lives and works until today 1976 appointed member of the Japan Crafts Association (Nihon kôgei-kai) Group exhibitions 1967 Asahi Ceramics Exhibition (Asahi tôgei-ten) 1968 Exhibition of Japanese Ceramics (Nihon tôgei-ten) 1970 International Exhibition of Chûnichi Ceramics (Chûnichi kokusai tôgei-ten) 1972–75 Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (Nihon dentô kôgei-ten)
One man shows:
1979 Takashimaya Gallery, Tôkyô; since then again in 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1990.
1982 Hankyû Gallery, Ôsaka; since then again in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987.
1984 Maru’ei Gallery, Nagoya; again in 1986.
GEORGES SERRÉ (1889-1956) France
Vase c. 1925
Warm ivory /sand colored glazed stoneware with hand incised stylized leaf and floral motif with a top collar and lower half in a softened geometric repeat pattern all in a light brown tonality.
Marks: G Serre (hand incised signature)
For more information see: La Céramique Art Déco, Edgar Pelichet (Paris: Bibliothèque des Arts, 1988), p. 47.
For more information on Serré see: Georges Serré, exhib. cat. (Paris: Galerie Landrot, 1992).
H: 11″ x Dia: 10″
WILHELM KÅGE (1889-1960) Sweden
GUSTAVSBERG Gustavsberg, Sweden
“Nude” Farsta bowl c. 1940
Glazed stoneware with hand inscribed sgraffito decoration of a nude
Marks: Kage, Studio Gustavsberg; FARSTA
Dia: 8″
PIERRE D’AVESN (1901-1984)
Vase c. 1920
Brown and gold glass, pressed in relief
Marks: Inscribed on base
For more information see: Pierre d’Avesn Catalogue raisonné, 1920 to 1930 (by Philippe Decelle)
H: 8 3/4″
CLÉMENT MASSIER (1845-1917) France
MASSIER ART POTTERY Golfe Juan, France
“Bamboo and flying crane” vase c. 1900
Earthenware tapering form with applied handles, hand painted with bamboo and flying cranes with gilt motives and details
Marks: Clement Massier Golfe Juan (block impressed letters)
For more information and other works by the Massier family see: Lost Paradise: Symbolist Europe (Montreal, Quebec: The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 1995) p. 176, cat. 269; Jugendstil Art Nouveau, Floral and Functional Forms, Siegfried Wichmann (New York/Boston: Graphic Society/Little, Brown & Co., 1984) p. 45; Art Nouveau Belgium France. Exh. cat. Yvonne Brunhammer et al. (Houston, TX: Institute for the the Arts, Rice University, 1976); La Céramique Art Nouveau, Edgar Pélichet, Michèle Duperrex (Paris: La Bibliothèque des Arts, 1976) p. 89
H: 14 1/8” x D: 9 5/8”
WHITING MANUFACTURING CO. North Attleboro, MA
“Koi” serving bowl with matching servers c. 1880
Sterling silver serving bowl and matching servers with applications of Koi fish behind nets, gilt interior
Marks: on base: lion with W in oval (manufacturer’s insignia), STERLING, 2124A, J.E. CALDWELL & CO. (retailer)
H: 4 3/8″ x Dia: 9 3/4″
In 1840 Albert Tifft and William Whiting started their business in North Attleboro, MA as a jewelry manufacturing company and then in 1866 created the Whiting Mfg. Co. and expanded production into small holloware as well. The Gorham Company bought Whiting in 1926 and all operations were then moved to Providence, R.I.
JAIPUR, MUGHAL INDIA
Enameled and gem set gold Cup and Saucer c. mid-19th Century
High carat yellow gold (22-24 carat) cup and saucer set with a fine emerald, ruby and diamonds, the cup with a high foot with rounded sides and handle formed of two snakes intersecting at three points and biting the rim. The exterior is decorated with red, green, blue and white enamels with roundels containing combatant animals on a ground of floral sprays, the saucer with gently rounded sides decorated with lobed cartouches containing warriors combating tigers and birds, the underside with a series of oval panels containing peacocks and hummingbirds.
Provenance: a gift from a European diplomat in the 1930’s-40’s, and thence by descent.
Saucer: Dia: 5 1/4;
Cup: H: 2 3/4″ (with handle) x Dia: 2 5/8″
Similar animal decoration can be found in an epaulette attributed to Rajesthan, probably Jaipur, in the Khalili Collection (Pedro Moura Carvalho, Gems and Jewels of Mughal India, London, 2010, p. 225, no. 120. A related cup and saucer with similar animal depictions was sold at Christie’s (Islamic Art, Indian Miniatures, Rugs and Carpets, London, 21st October 1993, lot 350.
George Richards Elkington (1801-1865)
Trompe L’Oeil Box 1854
Sterling silver shallow box with a hinged lid of a life-size trompe l’oeil damask napkin neatly folded on a gilt-sterling Georgian dinner plate
Weight: 45 troy ounces
Marks: GRE makers mark, London hallmarks for 1854
H: 2″ x Dia: 10 1/2″
Eugene Schopin (1831-1893) Montigny-sur-Loing, France.
Renaissance-Revival style Majolica wall shelf, circa 1872.
Hand modeled and cast ceramic with highly stylized caryatids and floral details glazed with rich cobalt blue, green, gold and cream colored glazes.
Marks: M-S-L (Montigny-sur-Loing), RA.
H: 8 ½” x W: 14” x D: 6 ¾”.
Eugene Schopin founded his ceramic factory in Montigny-sur-Loing in 1872. Painters like Jean-Baptiste Corot, Eugène Thirion (1839-1910), Adrien Schulz (1851-1931), Numa Gillet (1868-1940) and Lucien Cahen-Michel (1888-1980) were attracted to this area by the beauty of the landscape and light. Eugene Schopin collaborated with these artists to create a range of models inspired by Impressionism and decorated according to the new demands of the public.
Leonard Wyburd UK
Liberty & Company London
Four-legged Thebes stool circa 1890-95.
Mahogany, woven wicker seat, turned details.
Comparable Liberty stools illustrated: Egyptomania: Egypt in Western Art, 1730-1930 (Paris: Éditions de la Réunion des Musées Nationaux and Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 1994), pp. 465-66.
H: 15 3/4″ x D: 15″ x W: 15″
One of the driving influences of the Aesthetic Movement of the late 19th century was an informed interest in authentic ancient designs inspired by recent archaeological discoveries. Both the three- and four-legged Thebes stool were inspired by actual furniture and wall paintings unearthed from royal tombs in the ancient Egyptian city for which they are named. Leonard Wyburd, who was one of the principal designers for Liberty, patented his designs for the Thebes stools in 1884. Liberty & Co. continued to make the popular stools into the early 1900’s.
In the Style of JEAN-MICHEL FRANK (1895 – 1941) France
Pair of “Rodo” chairs 20th Century
Light ceruse oak with red Hermès sueded leather
For more information see: Jean-Michel Frank: The Strange and Subtle Luxury of the Parisian Haute-Monde in the Art Deco period, P.E. Martin-Vivier (Paris, 2006)
H: 32 1/2″
WERNER SCHMIDT (b. 1953) Switzerland.
Folding triangle chair, 1993.
Dark brown laminate Plywood, hinges.
Signed: Werner Schmidt, 8/10, ‘93 (script signature in white permanent marker)
For related folding table by Schmidt see illustration: Aluminum by Design, Sarah Nichols et al. (Pittsburgh, PA: Carnegie Museum of Art, 2000) p. 57.
Open dimension: H: 31 5/8” x W: 28” x D: 20”
Closed dimension: H: 31 5/8” x W 22 1/2”
ALDO TURA Italy
Coffee table with furled edges c. 1950
Vellum-covered birch with mahogany lacquered cherry legs
Illustrated: Mid-Century Modern, Furniture of the 1950s, Cara Greenberg
(New York: Harmony Books, 1984) p. 160.
H: 18 1/2” x D: 21” x 37”
Price: $14,500
BAKALOWITS & SÖHNE (founded 1845 in Vienna)
“Starburst” chandelier c.1970’s
Crystal rods of varying lengths with nine lights,
chromium-plated metal ceiling cap and spherical chandelier parts.
Ceiling to drop length: 46 1/2″ x overall diameter: 33 1/2″
Price: $24,000
The Bakalowits Company was founded in Vienna, Austria in 1845 by Elias Bakalowits. After his son Ludwig joined the company, E. Bakalowits & Sons grew and became one of the foremost crystal chandelier manufacturers in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1892 Ludwig Bakalowits received the order to manufacture the chandeliers for the Neue Hofburg Palace in Vienna for Emperor Franz Joseph I and was appointed Imperial and Royal Purveyor to the Court.
The company’s reputation for excellence grew outside Europe, and by 1885 the company was exporting its products to America and Asia. In 1900, Bakalowits & Sons displayed their crystal chandeliers at the World Exposition in Paris. Other exhibitions in St. Petersburg, London, Geneva and Turin followed and attracted more clients from around the world. In 1928, the company obtained patents for its crystal chandeliers. In 1955 Bakalowits was entrusted with the manufacture of new lighting fixtures for some of the Viennese buildings that had suffered damage during the Second World War. These included the Parliament, the State Opera House, the National theatre, City Hall, St. Stephan’s Cathedral, and others.