Antique Porcelain Figurines, Bohemian School, 19th Century

In the middle of the 19th century, in Bohemia, which was then part of Austria, a separate and unique school of masters appeared, famous for creating porcelain figurines of the highest quality. Although they started much later than the recognized European centers of Germany, France, England, Italy and Austria, within 50-60 years the Bohemian masters had already become forerunners of European fashion. Bohemian manufactories achieved particular success with the emergence of the Art Nouveau style. Manufacturers such as Ernst Wahliss, Royal Dux, Urban Brothers, Goldscheider, Bernard Bloch and others occupied leading positions at international exhibitions, and their products filled the shelves of fashionable stores. These factories established representative offices in Paris, Vienna, Berlin, London and even New York. This flourishing period began to decline with the outbreak of World War I and worsened with the economic depression of the 1930s. The final chapter in the history of the Bohemian Porcelain School was written during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia. Many Bohemian factory owners were Jewish and not all of them managed to escape. The two statuettes we are presenting to you are a striking example of the Bohemian Porcelain School. Made with great attention to detail, these statuettes once adorned the living rooms of very wealthy people. These high-class works were very expensive. Judging by the hole in the base, each of these statuettes was probably adapted to serve as a stand for a table lamp. However, even in their present form, they are works of art in their own right. Devoid of any utilitarian function, they are simply admired for their perfect form and the exquisite details so characteristic of Bohemian porcelain. Dimensions: Female: Height 35.5 cm, Width 19 cm, Depth 21 cm, Weight 2174 grams Male: Height 35.5 cm, Width 17.5 cm, Depth 17 cm, Weight 2394 grams Condition: Female: A piece of the wood (at the base) on which the girl is leaning is chipped. There is a small, barely noticeable loss of enamel in several places, visible only with a magnifying glass. Otherwise, the figurine is in excellent antique condition, with complete preservation of the main figure, colors, enamel and gilding. Male: Virtually impeccable condition, with microscopic losses of enamel in a few places that are not visible to the naked eye. Otherwise, excellent condition of preservation. It is worth noting that these figurines could serve as the basis for magnificent table lamps if someone today wanted to return to such an anachronism. Please study the photographs accompanying the item carefully as they form an integral part of this description. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance.