Large Vase with Relief Flower Amphora ca. 1900
Large vase with relief flower, Amphora Riessner Stellmacher & Kessel, white biscuit (“ivory porcelain”), ca. 1900, marked
Marked underneath with “AMPHORA”, model number “0698”, modeler number “55” and handwritten numbers “383”, “3383-47”
Description
The Bohemian ceramic manufacture Amphora showed extraordinary finesse in the execution of its floral production series which was inspired by French and Belgian Art Nouveau. Nature itself served as the primary and endless source of inspiration. The resulting aesthetic masterpieces embody not only decorative everyday objects, but much more meaningful works of art. The vases and jugs, produced with the greatest expertise, were artistically decorated with exotic blossoms, stylized flowers and trees.
The outstanding achievement of these inexhaustibly imaginative designs culminated in the successful threedimensional execution of these floral motifs. On the one hand, the floral motifs represented the theme of evanescence and the constant cycle of life. On the other hand, some of these motifs were also regarded as allegories of the virtues and vices of mankind.
This production series is characterized by the artistic freedom given to the designers in interpretation and design. It is not without reason that today it remains one of the most successful series of the manufacture, both on the domestic and the international market. The original reliefs made from “ivory porcelain”, in combination with earthy natural tones as well as precise details in golden color, make these ceramic vessels unique collectibles.
EXECUTION
The "Amphora-Werke k.k. priv. Keramische Werke Rießner, Stellmacher & Kessel" was founded in 1892 by Hans and Carl Rießner, Eduard Stellmacher and Rudolf Kessel in Turn-Teplitz. The Austro-Hungarian company produced high quality ceramic objects and is one of the most famous manufactories of the Art Nouveau period. Soon after its founding, the company employed 300 people and exported its sought-after products all over the world. Besides rather commercial products, more elaborate objects were created for world exhibitions and other international art fairs. These partly monumental exhibits include vases with grotesque animal creatures such as dragons and sea monsters, inspired by Japanese woodblock prints, as well as vessels with maiden and delicate female figures in allegorical designs. The high-quality standards of the founding members brought along the so-called "ivory porcelain", a glazed thin-walled type of ceramics, which was often enhanced with gold, cold enamel painting and gemstones. Even then, the company won high awards with this technique and the elaborate surface design, including four "Grand Prix" at various world exhibitions. Today, exceptional specimens are represented in famous art nouveau museums such as the Badisches Landesmuseum, Karlsruhe and the Bröhan Museum, Berlin.
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