MICHAEL POWOLNY (1871-1954) Austria
BERTOLD LÖFFLER (1874-1960) Austria
WIENER KERAMIK Vienna
Putto mit Füllhornvase c. 1910
Glazed white earthenware handpainted with black enamel.
Marks: MP (impressed artist’s monogram), WK (impressed firm logo in a square)
Exhibited: Frühjahrsausstellung Österreichischer Kunstgewerbe in Österreichisches Museum für Kunst und Industrie (today the MAK museum), Vienna, 1912.
Model illustrated: Deutsche Kunst und Dekoration, Vol. XXXI, October 1912 March 1913, n.p.; Deutsche Kunst und Dekoration, Vol. XXXIII, October 1913-March 1914, n.p.; The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art 1913 (London, 1913), p. 218; Wiener Keramik, L.W. Rochowanski (Leipzig and Wien: Thyrsos Verlag, 1923) n.p.; Michael Powolny: Keramik und Glas aus Wien 1900 bis 1950, Elisabeth Frottier (Vienna: Böhlau Verlag, 1990) 1912 photograph with the horse sculpture displayed in vitrine from Frühjahrsausstellung Österreichischer Kunstgewerbe, illus. 4, p. 15, illus. 16, p. 33, cat. no. WV 132.
H: 8 9/16″ x Dia: 5 3/4″
Price: $8,000
TLINGIT TRIBE / NORTHWEST COAST
Chevron/diamond storage basket, late 19th Century, early 20th Century
Handwoven split conifer root (buff), bear grass (white), woodwardia fern stem dyed with alder bark (rust), maidenhair fern stem (black), willow shoots
For more information see: The Fine Art of California Indian Basketry, Brian Bibby (Sacramento/Berkeley: Crocker Art Museum, Heyday Books, 1996), p. 90.
H: 8 1/2” x D: 11”
Edward Spencer attr. (1872-1938) UK
Artificer’s Guild (1901-42) UK
Pair of candlesticks circa 1910.
Handwrought iron with a squared central support terminating in a attenuated vine like wrap.
H: 10 1/2″ x Dia: 5 1/2″
The Artificers’ Guild Ltd was founded in 1901 by the metalwork and enameler Nelson Dawson (1859-1942). It was one of the few guilds inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement to enjoy real commercial success, and remained in operation until 1938. It was bought out in 1903 by the Birmingham entrepreneur Montague Fordham and established on a more commercial footing, producing domestic metalwork, church plate and furnishings, presentation plate and jewelry.
Fordham promoted Edward Spencer (1873-1938), previously Dawson’s principal designer, to be Director of the Guild’s workshop in Hammersmith. The Guild also had a showroom originally located just off Regent Street. Spencer died in 1938, shortly after the firm was wound up. During its existence, the Guild operated as a substantial business, employing over 40 staff at its peak, including a large number of skilled craftsmen, many of whom would have been trained in the Guild’s workshop. Although unacknowledged for much of the 20th century, the Guild is now recognized as an important producer of high quality metalwork and jewelry during this period.
The Sweetser Co. New York, New York
(active 1900-1915)
Covered cigar box c. 1910
Elaborately etched sterling silver cover with a spherical jade finial and a copper box bottom, wood lined
Marks: S & E in three separate boxes (2x), STERLING, 2158
H: 4 3/4″ x D: 6 1/8″ x W: 7 5/8″
The Sweetser Co. New York, NY was active 1900-1915 and were manufacturers of fancy gold and sterling wares
SCANDINAVIAN ART NOUVEAU
“Wisteria” bronze photo frame c.1910
Elaborately detailed, acid etched and multi-patinated bronze table top photo frame with gilt details of a cascade of wisteria blossoms, leaves and vines.
Overall Frame: H: 12” x W: 7 ½”
Oval photo window opening H: 5 ½” x W: 4”
Price: $3,650
MICHAEL POWOLNY (1871-1954) Austria
BERTOLD LÖFFLER (1874-1960) Austria
WIENER KERAMIK Vienna
Putto mit Hahn c. 1910
Glazed white earthenware handpainted with black enamel
Marks: MP (impressed artist’s monogram), WK (impressed company logo in a square), original Wiener Keramik paper label
Exhibited: Frühjahrsausstellung Österreichischer Kunstgewerbe in Österreichisches Museum für Kunst und Industrie (MAK museum), Vienna, 1912.
Model illustrated: Deutsche Kunst und Dekoration, Vol. XXXI, October 1912 – March 1913, n.p.; Michael Powolny: Keramik und Glas aus Wien 1900 bis 1950, Elisabeth Frottier (Vienna: Böhlau Verlag, 1990) 1912 photograph with the cock sculpture displayed in vitrine from Frühjahrsausstellung Österreichischer Kunstgewerbe, illus. 4, p. 15 and illus. 27, p. 54, cat. no. WV92.
H: 9 1/8″
Price: $7,950
BERNHARD AMSTER (active Vienna early 20th century) Austria JEWELER, GOLDSMITH AND SILVERSMITH
“Winged Heart” Covered Box c. 1910
Handwrought and hand-hammered silver in a half oval form on four cylindrical feet with heart-shaped finial inset with bone and stylized silver feathers
Marked: BA (in a rectangle 2x), Austrian touchmark for 800 silver (in a pentagon 2x)
For more information see: Blühender Jugendstil – Österreich (Art Nouveau in Blossom – Austria), Firmen und Marken (Companies and Marks), Waltraud Neuwirth, II (Vienna: Selbstverlag Neuwirth, 1991)
H: 4 1/2″ x W: 6 1/2″ x D: 4 3/4″
Price: $5,750
FRANTISEK BIBUS Czechoslovakia
Architectural covered decanter with spherical stopper c. 1910
Silver mount with a rectangular handle cut out on a cut paneled crystal body, round crystal silver mounted stopper.
Marks: FB (maker’s mark) in a rectangle cartouche, Vienna assay mark for 800 silver
For more information see: Blühender Jugendstil – Österreich (Art Nouveau in Blossom – Austria), Firmen und Marken (Companies and Marks), Waltraud Neuwirth, II (Vienna: Selbstverlag Neuwirth, 1991).
H: 7″ x Dia: 3 1/2″
Price: $6,500
JOSEF HOFFMANN (1870-1956) Austria
WIENER WERKSTÄTTE (1903-1932) Vienna
Piano lamp c. 1910
Original nickel plated brass with a period silk shade
Marks: WIENER WERKSTÄTTE, JH monogram, rose mark
For more information see: Josef Hoffmann Designs, ed. Peter Noever (Munich: MAK and Prestel-Verlag, 1992), Wiener Werkstätte: Avantgarde, Art Déco, Industrial Design, Waltraud Neuwirth (Vienna: Selbstverlag Dr. Waltraud Neuwirth, 1984).
Overall length: 19″ ; Overall height: 10″ Base: 6″ square, H: 1″ to 1 3/4″ ; Dia Shade: 6″; Silk shade: 9″
Price: $24,500
MICHAEL POWOLNY (1871-1954) Austria
BERTOLD LÖFFLER (1874-1960) Austria
VEREINIGTE WIENER UND GMUNDNER KERAMIK Vienna
Schneckenreiter c. 1910
Glazed white earthenware hand-painted with black enamel
Marks: conjoined WK (in a square), KG with flower (in a square), 81 (impressed)
***Extremely rare Powolny model in black and white.
Model illustrated: Michael Powolny: Keramik und Glas aus Wien 1900 bis 1950, Elisabeth Frottier (Vienna: Böhlau Verlag, 1990), p. 50, illus. 20, cat. no. WV43; Vienna 1900, Vienna, Scotland and the European Avant-Garde, Peter Vergo (Edinburgh, Scotland, 1983), p. 63, plate 19; “Austrian Architecture and Decoration,” The Studio Year Book of Decorative Art 1911 (London: The Studio, 1911), p. 233.
This model may also be found in the permanent collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (Inventory number 604, 1966).
H: 7″ x W: 7 3/4″ x D: 4″
Price: $10,500
JULIUS DRESSLER Biela, Czech Republic
JULIUS DRESSLER BIELA (1888-1945) Czech Republic
Bowl 1910
Black and white glazed earthenware with three ball feet
Marks: JDB, 7764 (underglaze)
H: 4 7/8” x D base: 10 7/8”
Price: $3,750
Julius Dressler was a noted Bohemian ceramics manufacturing company that operated from the late 19th century until the end of World War II. Founded by Julius Dressler in the 1880s in Biela, Bohemia, the company produced high-quality decorative faience, Maiolica and porcelain ware. Dressler gained international renown for the ceramics it produced in the early 1900s in the Art Nouveau style, also known as “Jugendstil” or “Secessionist” ware.
JOSEF HOFFMANN (1870-1956) Austria
WIENER WERKSTÄTTE (1903-1932) Vienna
Oval serving tray c. 1910
Silver plated alpaca
Marks: JH monogram, WIENER/WERK/STATTE, MADE IN AUSTRIA (impressed); L 478 a 1 (inscribed)
Illustrated: Wiener Werkstätte: Die Schutzmarken, The Registered Trade Marks, Waltraud Neuwirth (Wien: Selbstverlag Dr. Waltraud Neuwirth, 1985), p. 221; Wiener Werkstätte, 1903-1932, Gabriele Fahr-Becker (Köln: Benedikt Taschen Verlag GmbH, 1995), p. 161.
H: 1 3/4″ x W: 14″ x D: 11 3/4″
Price: $5,800
EMIL HOYE (1875-1958) Bergen, Norway
MARIUS HAMMER (1847-1927) Norway
Four-quadrant sweets tray c. 1910
Handwrought silver with fluted border detail
Marks: MH (conjoined monogram of Marius Hammer), 800 (silver standard mark), 5294
For further information see: Silver of a New Era: International Highlights of Precious Metalwork from 1880 to 1940 (Rotterdam: Museum Boymans van-Beuningen, 1992), p. 218; Art Nouveau and Art Deco Silver Annelies Krekel-Aalberse (New York: Abrams, 1989) pp. 243, 255
H: 1 5/8” x 8 5/8” square