FIGURINES - Augarten Porzellan

AUGARTEN PORZELLAN
manu factum est
Join us on a journey into the richly diverse and fascinating world of porcelain figures. Our time span
stretches from the very beginnings of the Manufactory in 1718 right up to the Art Deco period.
It is rare to find a manufactory which can reflect the path of history across the centuries with such
subtlety and skill.
Themes
Alongside Vally Wieselthier, mention is also made of Ida Schwetz-Lehmann and Mathilde Szendrö-Jaksch,
designers who, for example, dominated in the field of typically charming Art Deco figures. Schwetz-
Lehmann produced models of fashionably-dressed young ladies while, in 1927, Jaksch created an image of
a famous dancer of the time, Tilly Losch, in her role as “Schlagobers” in the ballet of the same name by
Richard Strauss.
Objects created by the Manufactory were received with a storm of enthusiasm at the World Fair in Paris in
1929. In addition to designs by Walter Bosse, works by Franz von Zülow and the ceramic artists of the
“Wiener Werkstätte” (Vienna Workshops) Dina Kuhn, Hertha Bucher and Vally Wieselthier were also on
show – these were devoted particularly to the designs of sculptures at Augarten.
Some of the first figural works created after the Paris exhibition included models by Albin Döbrich and
Karin Sakellarious – Courbette, Piaffe and Levade with Rider were produced as examples of the haute
école school of riding long established at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. These unmistakeable
representations of the world-famous horses and riders of the Spanish Riding School epitomize the
perfection of supreme craftsmanship. A Lippizaner like this consists of no fewer than 70 separate parts.
And let’s not forget the countless animal figures, both large and small, such as the finely detailed dogs,
playful cats and fabulously plumaged birds from both familiar and more exotic climes.
The repertoire also came to include figures in traditional costume, religious figures and statuettes of
musicians Johann Strauss, Franz Schubert and Mozart. Most of the work was designed by the renowned
artists Breideneichen, Jesser, Rottenberg and Berceviczy.
The range of porcelain figures received an injection of humour with “grotesques” produced to designs by
Walter Bosse or animals by Karin Jarl. Contemporaries very much valued Walter Bosse’s talent for
developing amusing and droll ideas.
Cooperation with internationally renowned contemporary artists and designers is also a key factor in the
production of new models and decorations. One example is the work of Arik Brauer who is responsible for
the production of a fantastical chess game.
Figurines 4
*All figurines are also available in white.