Art Deco, Chrome Metal Charleston Dancer Sculpture Signed Preiss 1930

Art deco, in the chryselephantine taste A large sculpture in chrome metal and polychrome bakelite, representing a Charleston dancer wearing a tunic and a headband in her hair Signed intaglio Ferdinand Preiss on the base The original model is visible at the Negresco hotel in Nice On beige marble base Missing the little finger of the left hand Period: around 1930 Dimensions: height 32 cm excluding base; base 6 x 12 cm; weight approximately 1.2 kg Good condition Preiss Johann Philipp Ferdinand, known as Ferdinand Preiss (1882-1943): German sculptor, one of the main sculptors of the Art Deco period. Born in Erbach, Hesse, he was orphaned at 15 and apprenticed to the ivory sculptor Philipp Willmann. During his travels in Europe, he met Arthur Kassler and with him founded the company Preiss & Kassler in Berlin. Kassler takes care of the management of the company and Preiss of the artistic direction. Originally, the company created small ivory sculptures of children and classically shaped statuettes. Preiss's skill revolutionized ivory carving by developing the dental bur technique, which allowed chryselephantine figures to be produced with greater precision and speed. From 1910, the company specialized in limited edition art deco sculptures, mixing painted bronze with ivory on onyx and marble bases. Preiss & Kassler closed its doors upon Preiss' death in 1943. The former workshop on Ritterstraße in Berlin, which housed the sample stock, was destroyed in a fire caused by a bomb attack before the end of the Second World War. Preiss's sculptures are often sold at auction.