Majolica Earthenware Sculptures Wilhelm Schiller Gypsy Children Austria 160cm

Rare pair of large polychrome (majolica) faience sculptures signed WS & S for Wilhelm Schiller & Sons *, representing two gypsy children sitting on columns, the little girl holding a tambourine and reaching out to beg, the little boy playing the flute, from Austria, vintage late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. These sculptures are in good condition and are of exceptional quality. They are very decorative because of their size. Signed under the columns and numbered under the children. The sculptures are placed on the columns (wires were added later to bind the two). A note: the column of the girl is a little unscrewed, accidents and breaks in the top of the column of the girl, small accident and missing on a tambourine of the tambourine (the one under his elbow), small defect of cooking on the pants of the boy, the flute (which is removed) was broken and glued, small chips on the column of the boy, some other chips on the edges of the base of the columns, wear of time, well look at the photos (see red arrows). * Wilhelm Schiller & Sons: In 1829, was founded in Bodenbach, in the Bela district, the majolica factory Schiller and Gerbing. The Schiller and Gerbing factory has specialized in majolica and neo-baroque, even Victorian, pieces of very high quality. The decor is very busy. They have now become relatively rare, the majolica being a rather fragile material. In 1885, Wilhelm Schiller left the company and founded with his son Eduard, the Wilhelm Schiller und Sohn (WS & S) still in Bodenbach but in another district, Obergrund. The Wilhelm Schiller and Sohn factory operated from 1885 to 1914. For a large part of its business, the factory continued the tradition of the Victorian style majolica as Gerbing and Stephan, producing pieces very close to this other factory. From around 1905, the Wilhelm Schiller and Sohn house began to manufacture pieces much more influenced by Art Nouveau and Secession: simplification of forms, use of plant motifs. Its closure was caused by the First World War because the number of workers involved in the conflict was too great to maintain the plant's activity. ATTENTION: FOR A QUOTE OF DELIVERY CONTACT US WITH CITY AND COUNTRY OF DESTINATION. BE CAREFUL: US PLEASE CONTACT FOR THE DELIVERY PRICE. Dimensions Dimensions base columns 37 cm x 37 cm Height boy 160 cm / girl 157 cm / column 110 cm Reference: 500 568 All photos are on: www.antiques-delaval.com