Ceramic, light body with cream-colored glaze and underglaze black painting
Austria, circa 1907
Design: Michael Powolny (1871-1954) – Austrian sculptor and modeler
Manufactured circa 1919 by Gmundner Keramik, Gmunden
Base with impressed manufactory mark and model number ‘81’ as well as inscribed in underglaze black ‘AUSTRIA’, ‘o’ and monogram ‘LS’
Representation of a nude boy riding on a snail, flower garlands as bridles
Lit.: Elisabeth Frottier, Michael Powolny, Vienna and Cologne 1990, p. 20, fig. 43
Dimensions: 18.5 x 19.5 cm
Good condition
Charming depiction in Powolny’s typical playful style; the auction record for a ceramic by the artist is set at around €56,000

This ceramic work is a design by the Viennese artist Michael Powolny, executed by Gmundner Keramik. It depicts a boy sitting on the shell of a snail, holding the reins in the form of a flower garland. The boy's hair is accentuated in black whereas the cream-colored snail body is adorned with stylized pattern. The reduced ornamentation in black and white shows the influence of Josef Hoffmann, who as a close friend of Powolny. In contrast to the naturalistically and colorfully embellished version, the present model appears incredibly modern in its design, combining the simplified formal language of the Wiener Werkstätte and the playfulness that characterizes most of Powolny’s works.

Literature: Elisabeth Frottier, Michael Powolny, Vienna and Cologne 1990, p. 20, fig. 43

The figure is marked on the base with the impressed manufactory mark and model number ‘81’ as well as inscribed in underglaze black ‘AUSTRIA’, ‘o’ and monogram ‘LS’. It is in good condition with light signs of age and wear. There are a few small, barely noticeable chips. The dimensions are 18.5 x 19.5 cm (height x width).

Michael Powolny (1871-1954)

Michael Powolny initially trained as a potter and then attended the college for pottery in Znojmo and later the Vienna School of Applied Arts. In 1906 he founded the Wiener Keramik together with Bertold Löffler, whose products were distributed by the Wiener Werkstätte and which merged with Gmundner Keramik in 1913. From 1909 to 1936 Powolny worked as a teacher at the art school. On the one hand, he created with reduced black and white decoration and on the other hand colorfully embellished objects and figures. Among his most famous works are his cherub figurines, an allegory of the seasons. In addition, he was consulted by Josef Hoffmann for the interior design of the Cabaret Fledermaus, the Palais Stoclet and various Viennese mansions. Powolny participated in all major exhibitions of the Wiener Werkstätte, he was a member of the Austrian and German Werkbund. Michael Powolny was of crucial importance to the revival and development of the ceramic art in the early 20th century. (tfa)

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