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.
Expressive Ceramic Figurine, Cupid, By Walter Bosse, Kufstein, Austria 1924-1936
By Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
Figure of a standing, curly-haired Cupid, a stylized interpretation of ancient models, at his feet a large heart pierced by an arrow, resting on a small, domed round pedestal. Red ea...
Porcelain
$1,036Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.5 in W 4.5 in D 3.25 in
Art Deco Figurine of 'Mata Hari' by Capodimonte / Naples Porcelain Company
By Capodimonte
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Art Deco Figurine of 'Mata Hari' by Capodimonte / Naples Porcelain Company Italy, circa 1925 An exceptional work, displaying grace and movement, subtly hand- painted. The seductive turban and gold earring wearing dancer draped in a White and Iron-Red Moon and Star motif garment, on a tasseled pillow. Hence our Mata Hari, attribution/suggestion. The name Mata Hari, is a Malay expression for the sun. Literally meaning “eye of the day"/ dawn of the day' This exquisite figure, depicts the The dancer (Mata Hari ?) as the sun-wearing the moon and stars. Marked with the variation Blue underglaze Crown & N. In remarkable well cared for condition, some minor wear to the gilt. The figurine stands...
Porcelain
$1,624
H 5.91 in W 4.34 in D 2.76 in
Age Art Deco Porcelain Figurine from Hungarian Porcelain Hollóháza
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Age Art Deco porcelain figurine from Hungarian porcelain Hollóháza About Holloaza Hollohaza porcelain is one of the oldest porcelain manufactory ...
Porcelain
Augarten Vienna Porcelain Figurine Nude
By Augarten Porzellanmanufaktur
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Lovely porcelain figurine of a nude by the Augarten Porcelain Manufacture of Vienna, Austria. Marked with the company logo on the base. In excellent condition. Some museum wax and st...
Porcelain
$294Sale Price|40% Off
H 5.5 in W 3.5 in D 2.75 in
Walter Bosse Brass Dinner Bell Displaying a Cat by Herta Baller, Austria, 1950
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming midcentury table bell displaying a cat. A humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by Herta Baller Austria in the 1950s. Made of brass, in very good condition.
Brass
$294Sale Price|40% Off
H 4 in W 5 in D 3 in
Walter Bosse Donkey Salt and Pepper Shaker Set, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming Austrian Mid-Century shaker set, displaying a donkey. A very humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by Hertha Baller Austria in the 1950s. Made of metal and wood. In go...
Metal
$600Sale Price|20% Off
H 4 in W 4 in D 3 in
Walter Bosse Monkey Salt and Pepper Shakers Set, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
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...
Glass
Rosenthal Art Deco Porcelain Figurine, Ballerina, 1930s
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rosenthal Art Deco porcelain figurine. Ballerina. 1930s. Measures: 23.5 x 11.5 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped.
Porcelain
Midcentury French Ceramic Boxer Figurine, 1950s
Located in Miami, FL
A friendly midcentury boxer made of ceramic.
Ceramic
$192Sale Price|40% Off
H 3 in W 3 in D 3 in
Walter Bosse Cow Brass Cork Screw Bottle Opener, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming midcentury bottle opener/cork screw, displaying a cow. A very humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by Herta Baller Austria in the 1950s. Made of polished brass, in ve...
Brass
$192Sale Price|40% Off
H 3 in W 3 in D 3.5 in
Walter Bosse Rabbit Brass Cork Screw Bottle Opener, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming Mid-Century bottle opener / cork screw, displaying a rabbit. A humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by Hertha Baller Austria in the 1950s. Made of polished brass, in ...
Brass
Antique German porcelain group of Venus with Cupid by Meissen
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in London, GB
Antique German porcelain group of Venus with Cupid by Meissen German, c. 1750 Height 20.5cm, width 11cm, depth 12cm This charming Meissen porce...
Porcelain
$174Sale Price|40% Off
H 3.5 in W 3 in D 3 in
Walter Bosse Dwarf Brass Cork Screw Bottle Opener, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming Mid-Century bottle opener/cork screw, displaying a dwarf. A humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by Hertha Baller Austria in the 1950s. Made of black-finished brass, ...
Brass
Sold
H 5.12 in W 6.3 in D 4.53 in
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...
Porcelain
Sold
H 8.08 in W 6.89 in D 5.91 in
Ceramic Figurine, Striding Skier, Walter Bosse for Terra, Austria 1947-1951
By Terra, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
Blond boy with woollen hat and mittens, blue ski trousers, yellow jumper and green scarf, cheerfully striding along with skis shouldered and hand casually tucked into his trousers. B...
Porcelain
Sold
H 7.49 in W 2.76 in D 2.76 in
Art Déco Figure, Grotesque 'Man With Antelope' Walter Bosse for Augarten, Vienna
By Augarten Porzellanmanufaktur, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A man in a long dress wrapped like a spiral spring and a pointed hat hugs the animal with an excessively long neck standing next to him, with the horns and hat wedged together. Pain...
Porcelain