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Walter Bosse Sculptures

Austrian, 1904-1979

Credited with thousands of works and models for ceramic pieces, Walter Bosse was an intensely prolific designer. The modernist Austrian sculptor and ceramist was best known for his distinctive “Black Golden” series of decorative objects and figurines, particularly his hedgehog ashtrays. Bosse’s mid-century and Art Deco works were popular as gifts for politicians and royalty worldwide, remaining coveted among collectors today.

Bosse was born in Vienna in 1904 to artist parents — his father, Julius, was a portrait painter for the Austrian Imperial Court. Bosse studied at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna from 1918 to 1921 under Austrian sculptor Michael Powolny and Austrian painter Franz Cizek. Later, he continued at the Munich School of Applied Arts in Germany under Austrian architect and designer Josef Hoffmann, a founder of the Vienna Secession movement.

Early in his career, Bosse worked as a designer at several ceramics manufacturers, including Augarten Porcelain Works in 1924, Goldscheider Porcelain Manufactory and Majolica Factory in 1926 and Metzler and Ortloff in 1927. In 1925, Bosse displayed several pieces at the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts in Paris, which introduced the Art Deco style to a global audience.

In 1931, Bosse opened a shop in Kufstein, Austria, selling ceramic gift items. Owing to the crippling economic effects of the Great Depression, however, Bosse was forced to close his shop in 1937. He returned to Vienna in 1938 and opened another business, Bosse Keramik, where he sold toys, glass, textiles and more. In the late 1940s, Bosse experimented with small-scale brass sculptures and desk accessories coated in black ceramic glaze. With Austrian designer Herta Baller, Bosse formed the Bosse-Baller company to manufacture the “Black Golden” line of figurines, which became wildly popular worldwide.

Despite Bosse’s success, he struggled financially and moved to Iserlohn, Germany, in 1953. Meanwhile, Baller continued to manufacture and sell Bosse’s designs, which were so popular that forgers copied and sold counterfeit editions of Bosse’s works around the world. The 1950s marked the debut of the artist’s whimsically zoomorphic hedgehog ashtrays — these were cast in brass, and a hedgehog ashtray in any other material is not a Bosse original.

Bosse spent the rest of his life embroiled in court battles to protect his designs, leaving him penniless by the time he died. Today authentic Bosse pieces — from wall-mounted sculptures to tableware — continue to be highly sought after by collectors.

Find vintage Walter Bosse serveware, wall decorations and more on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Walter Bosse
Walter Bosse Hedgehog Stackable Brass Ashtrays, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A complete set of six vintage stackable midcentury hedgehog ashtrays. A humorous and charming design by Walter Bosse, executed in the 1950s by Hertha Baller, Austria. Made of solid b...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Small Elephant Figurine by Walter Bosse Vienna Around 1950s ( marked )
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Small Elephant Figurine by Walter Bosse Vienna Around 1950s ( marked ) Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Brass Walter Bosse Hedgehog Sculpture Stacking Ashtrays 1950s Austrian
By Walter Bosse
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Ashtray in painted metal, with a green and gold patina. The artist is Walter bosse, and this model is the luxury one. Brass Walter Bosse Hedgehog Sc...
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Hedgehog by Walter Bosse for Hertha Baller around 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Hedgehog by Walter Bosse for Hertha Baller Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Miniature Owl Figurine by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
By Walter Bosse
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic mid-century 1950s Vienna bronze figurine by Walter Bosse. This gorgeous small miniature creature with big personality designed by Walter Bosse, an expert craftsman from the golden age of Vienna bronzes is a real beauty. He designed his “black/gold” series of bronze figurines to make “as many people as possible happy.” Excellent example of a Walter Bosse brass figurine...
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Walter Bosse brass hedgehog figurine pretzel holder, ring holder around 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse brass hedgehog figurine pretzel holder, ring holder around 1950s Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Bottle Opener Capricorn by Walter Bosse
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Bottle opener capricorn by Walter Bosse Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Candleholder 'cat' 'Marked'
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse candleholder (cat) (Marked) (The selling is without the candle it is only decoration for the photo shooting) Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Austrian Art Deco Art Pottery Cupid Figure
By Walter Bosse
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare and delightful Art Deco Austrian art pottery figure of a cupid by renowned Viennese artist, designer, ceramist, potter and metalworker Walter Bosse (Austrian, 1904-1979) and b...
Category

1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Rocking Horse by Walter Bosse
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Rocking horse by Walter Bosse Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Bear Figurine
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse bear figurine Original condition.  
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Set of 6 Hedgehog Sculptures for Hertha Baller, circa 1950s
By Walter Bosse
Located in Camblanes et Meynac, FR
Walter Bosse Set of 6 hedgehog sculptures for Hertha Baller, circa 1950s Mid-century Walter Bosse hedgehog stackable ashtray made in Austria. This vintage ashtray includes all six...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Blackened Brass Bear Candleholder/Figurine by Walter Bosse and Herta Baller
By Walter Bosse
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Viennese bear figurine designed by Walter Bosse and Herta Baller as part of “Black Golden Line" (Austria, ca. 1950). Composed of solid brass patinated in a black finish,...
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Monkey Salt and Pepper Shakers Set, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming Austrian midcentury shaker set from the 1950s, displaying a cute monkey holding salt and pepper shakers. A humorous design by Walter Bosse, manufactured by Hertha Baller i...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Glass

Small elephant by Walter bosse around 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Small elephant by Walter bosse around 1950s Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Small rabbit figurine by walter bosse vienna around 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Small rabbit figurine by walter bosse vienna around 1950s Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Donkey Salt and Pepper Shaker Set, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming Austrian midcentury Shaker set, displaying a donkey carrying two wooden barrels. A humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by Hertha Baller Austria in the 1950s. The don...
Category

Mid-20th Century Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Metal, Brass

Walter Bosse candle holder shows a elephant vienna around 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse candle holder shows a elephant vienna around 1950s Original condition The candle is only for the photoshoot. ( not for sale )
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Bull Head Figurine by Walter Bosse Vienna Around 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Bull head figurine by Walter Bosse vienna around 1950s Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Small Walter Bosse Penguin Figurine Vienna around 1950s ' Marked '
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse penguin figurine vienna around 1950s ( Marked ) Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Brass Cat Figurine Pretzel Holder, Ring Holder
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse brass cat figurine pretzel holder, ring holder Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Elephant Penholder by Walter Bosse, Vienna, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Elephant Penholder by Walter Bosse, Vienna, 1950s Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Small Penguin by Walter Bosse, Around 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Small penguin by Walter bosse, around 1950s Marked Austria on Bottom Original condition.  
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Dachshund Pen Holder
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse dachshund pen holder (the feather is not for sale she is decoration for the picture) Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Small Walter Bosse Bear Figurine, Vienna, circa 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Small Walter Bosse bear figurine, Vienna, circa 1950s Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Seahorse Figurine by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Seahorse figurine by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s. Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Small Walter Bosse Cat Figurine, Vienna, circa 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Small Walter Bosse cat figurine, Vienna, circa 1950s Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Elephant Figurine with Thermometer Walter Bosse, Vienna Austria 1960s Midcentury
By Walter Bosse
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1960s Austrian figurine, designed by Walter Bosse. Nice addition to your room, on your desk top or just for your collection of Austrian midcentury items. Charming, big ...
Category

1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Cat Figurine with Thermometer, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming Austrian desk thermometer, consisting of a lovely cat figurine and a lantern-shaped thermometer. A humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by Hertha Baller Austria in th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Elephant Figurine with Thermometer, Baller Austria, 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse Elephant Figurine with Thermometer, Baller Austria, 1950s Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Owl Figurine by Walter Bosse Around 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Owl figurine by walter bosse around 1950s Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Small bear figurine by walter bosse vienna around 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Small bear figurine by walter bosse vienna around 1950s Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Ceramic Vide-Poche, Grotesque At A Bowl, Walter Bosse, Austria 1924-1936
By Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A playful combination of the functional and the decorative: Female figure in a floor-length, loose dress with a headscarf, a simple face with pierced eyes set wide apart – a long nos...
Category

1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Bosse Baller Cat Bronze Corkscrew Vienna Austria, 1950s Mid-Century Modern
By Walter Bosse
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1950s Austrian Bosse cat Figurine Collectible. Nice addition to your room or just for your collection of Austrian bronze items. Found at an estate sale in Vienna, Austr...
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Walter Bosse Brass Cat Figurine Jewelry Ring Holder, Baller Austria, 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1950s Austrian Bosse cat Figurine Collectible. Nice addition to your room or just for your collection of Austrian bronze items. Found at an estate sale in Vienna, Austr...
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Small Playing seal figurine by walter bosse around 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Small Playing seal figurine by walter bosse around 1950s Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Large Baby Deer Pottery Ceramic Sculpture, Austria, 1920s
By Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming and large handmade figurine / statue depicting a baby deer / fawn. Originally designed as a doorstop by Walter Bosse and manufactured between 1924 and 1936 in Kufstein, Ty...
Category

1920s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Terracotta

Cat Figurine by Walter Bosse, Vienna, Around 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Cat figurine by Walter Bosse, Vienna, around 1950s Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Donkey Brass Figurine Pen Holder, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming Austrian midcentury pen or pencil holder, displaying a donkey. A very humorous design by Walter Bosse executed by Herta Baller Austria in the 1950s. Made of brass in excel...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Thermometer, circa 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse Thermometer, circa 1950s Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Small Bear Figurine by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Small bear figurine by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Wiener Dog Brass Figurine with Lantern Thermometer, Baller, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming Austrian Mid-Century desk thermometer, consisting of a nice wiener dog / sausage dog figurine made of brass and a lantern-shaped thermometer. A v...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Very Small Elephant Figurine by Walter Bosse, Around 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Very small elephant figurine by walter bosse around 1950s. Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Miniature Fish Figurine by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
By Walter Bosse
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic midcentury 1950s Vienna bronze figurine by Walter Bosse. This gorgeous small miniature creature with big personality designed by Walter Bosse, an expert craftsman from the golden age of Vienna bronzes is a real beauty. He designed his “black/gold” series of bronze figurines to make “as many people as possible happy.” Excellent example of a Walter Bosse brass figurine...
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Bronze, Brass

Walter Bosse Elephants Brass Key Hanger by Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming and rare key holder, displaying five elephants in different sizes. A very humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by Herta Baller, Austria, in the 1950s. Also suitable as a towel holder or for dish towels...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Wall Thermometer, Vienna around 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse Wall Thermometer, Vienna around 1950s Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Cat Figurine with Thermometer, Herta Baller Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming Austrian Mid Century modern desk thermometer, consisting of a nice cat figurine and a lantern-shaped thermometer. A humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by Hertha Bal...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Scorpio Zodiac Sign Brass Figurine, 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse Scorpio zodiac sign brass figurine, 1950s Original condition.    
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Cat Figurine Holding a Thermometer by Walter Bosse
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Cat Figurine Holding a Thermometer by Walter Bosse Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Shoehorn Squirrel Blackened Brass by Walter Bosse, Austria, 1950s
By Walter Bosse
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A nice shoehorn made of blackened and partly polished brass by Walter Bosse, Austria, 1950s. The handle is in the form of a squirrel. That tail can be used as hook. Very nice patina ...
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Cow Pen Holder by Walter Bosse
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Cow pen holder by Walter Bosse Original condition.  
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Cow Pen Holder by Walter Bosse
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Rare rooster pen holder by Walter Bosse (the feather is not for sale she is decoration for the picture) Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Cat Figurine with Thermometer, 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse cat figurine with thermometer, 1950s Austrian desk thermometer, cat figurine and a lantern-shaped thermometer. Designed by Walter Bosse...
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Midcentury Brass Horse Figurine, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A lovely horse foal sculpture made of brass from the 1950s. Designed by Walter Bosse, executed by Hertha Baller. In good condition with charming patina. We offer more Walter Bosse br...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Small Elephant Figurine by Walter Bosse Vienna Around 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Small Elephant Figurine by Walter Bosse Vienna Around 1950s Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Crocodile Walter Bosse figurines brass patinated new Vienna Austria
By Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
This crocodile figurine was produced in Austria and is signed at the bottom: Bosse Austria. The piece comes together with a fabric pouch, including a certificate, too. Model N° BO 6...
Category

2010s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Candleholder Walter Bosse Cow, circa 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Candleholder Walter Bosse cow Good original condition. (The candle is only for decoration for the photo shooting not for sell).
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse figurine BOAR brass patinated new Vienna Austria
By Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
Boar. New production made in Austria. The figurine is special in its own way and requires 14 work steps. It is a "lost wax casting" piece. Model number BO21 In 2000 a Viennese publi...
Category

2010s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Walter Bosse sculptures are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Walter Bosse sculptures, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original sculptures by Walter Bosse were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider sculptures by Herta Baller, Richard Rohac, and Leopold Anzengruber. Prices for Walter Bosse sculptures can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $120 and can go as high as $3,400, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $357.

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