Vase Allegory of France Nikolaus Kannhäuser Amphora ca. 1901
Vase “Allegory France”, Amphora-Werke, Riessner Stellmacher & Kessel in Turn-Templitz, around 1901, marked on the bottom
marked with “Amphora” in the ellipse, model number “583” and modeler no.”40″; bib.: Richard L. Scott (ed.), “Ceramics from the House of Amphora 1890-1915”, Sidney/Ohio 2004, p. 88 Examples of this decoration are Illustrated in Monsters and Maidens: Collectors Edition, Vreeland, pp. 104-105.
Description
A special feature of the Bohemian manufacturer Riessner, Stellmacher & Kessel are vessels made of their patented material called “ivory porcelain”. The portrait-vases with their depictions of female faces in different contexts were completely en-vogue with the contemporary taste of French Art Nouveau.
The helmet that the lady is wearing on this vase is decorated with the Gallic cockrel. Proud and battle-ready this animal symbolizes France and thus, the belligerent warrioress can be easily recognized as an allegory of France. Her splendid armour is artfully glazed and elaborately decorated with relief-like applications. The ornamentation on the helmet and the butterfly is particularly finely executed.
The sober back of the vase symbolizes the sea with its blue tones. A delicate gold line indicates the horizon line where the setting sun once again quotes France, the country to the west.
Nikolaus Kannhäuser designed the Allegory of France around 1902-1903, which is part of a series of allegories of other nations. Among them are Germany, Russia and Austria, and these warlike depictions can certainly be seen as a symbol of the growing chauvinism of the European great powers in the period around 1900.
The vase is marked with “AMPHORA” in the ellipse.
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