Antique Porcelain Figurines, Bohemian School, 19th Century

In the middle of the 19th century, in Bohemia, then part of Austria, a distinct and unique school of masters emerged, renowned for creating porcelain figurines of the highest quality. Although they began much later than the recognized European centers in Germany, France, England, Italy, and Austria, within 50-60 years, the Bohemian masters had already become trendsetters in European fashion. The Bohemian factories achieved particular success with the emergence of the Art Nouveau style.

Manufacturers such as Ernst Wahliss, Royal Dux, Urban Brothers, Goldscheider, Bernard Bloch, and others took leading positions at international exhibitions, with their products gracing the shelves of fashionable shops. These factories established representative offices in Paris, Vienna, Berlin, London, and even New York. This flourishing era began to decline with the onset of the First World War and worsened with the economic depression of the 1930s. The final chapter in the history of the Bohemian School of porcelain was written during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia. Many Bohemian factory owners were Jewish, and not all of them managed to escape.

A striking example of the Bohemian school of porcelain are the two statuettes we present to you. Meticulously crafted with great attention to detail, these statuettes once adorned the salons of very wealthy individuals. Such high-class works were very expensive.

Judging by the hole in the base, each of these statuettes was likely adapted for use as a stand for a table lamp. However, even in their current form, they stand as complete works of art. Lacking any utilitarian function, they are simply admired for their perfect form and the exquisite detailing so characteristic of Bohemian porcelain.

Dimensions:

Female: Height 35.5 cm, Width 19 cm, Depth 21 cm, Weight 2174 grams

Male: Height 35.5 cm, Width 17.5 cm, Depth 17 cm, Weight 2394 grams

Condition:

Female: A piece of the wood (at the base )on which the girl is leaning is chipped off. There is a small, barely noticeable loss of enamel in several places, visible only with a magnifying glass. Otherwise, the figurine is in excellent antique condition, with complete preservation of the main figure, colors, enamel, and gilding.

Male: Virtually flawless condition, with microscopic losses of enamel in a few places that are not visible to the naked eye. Otherwise, in excellent antique condition.

It should be especially noted that these figures could serve as the bases for wonderful table lamps if someone nowadays wishes to return to such an anachronism.

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. The item will be dispatched with full tracking and insurance. Please note that shipping costs include labor, packaging, and postage.