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.
Walter Bosse Monkey Ring & Toothpick Holder for Hertha Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming and highly collectible Mid-Century Modern monkey figurine designed by the celebrated Austrian designer Walter Bosse and produced by Hertha Baller in Vienna during the 1950...
Brass
$390
H 3 in W 5 in D 10.75 in
Walter Bosse Fish Mid-Century Brass Corkscrew, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A sculptural mid-century cork screw bottle opener in the form of a fish. Crafted from brass with a combination of polished and black-patinated surfaces. This charming and humorous de...
Brass
$680
H 1.5 in W 4.5 in D 5 in
Walter Bosse Sculptural Brass Hand Bowl or Ashtray, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful mid-century sculptural brass bowl designed in the shape of a hand. Originally conceived as an ashtray, this elegant brass piece is versatile to be used as a jewelry bowl,...
Brass
$490
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 Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
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
$750
H 4 in W 4 in D 3 in
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...
Glass
Ashtray by Walter Bosse Vienna Around 1950s ( signed Baller )
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, Au
Ashtray by Walter Bosse Vienna Around 1950s ( signed Baller ) Original condition
Brass
$240
H 6.25 in W 2.63 in D 1.38 in
Walter Bosse Corkscrew Horseshoe Vienna, Austria, 1950s, Mid-Century
By Walter Bosse
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1950s Austrian Walter Bosse design corkscrew in the form of a horseshoe. Nice addition to your room or just for your collection of Austrian bronze items. Found at an es...
Bronze
Hedgehog by Walter Bosse for Hertha Baller around 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, Au
Hedgehog by Walter Bosse for Hertha Baller around 1950s Original condition
Brass
$522
H 2.37 in W 3.55 in D 3.35 in
“Hand” Ashtray by Walter Bosse for Herta Baller, Austria, circa 1950
By Walter Bosse
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Elegant, sculptural, and full of character, this iconic “Hand” ashtray, designed by Walter Bosse and produced by Herta Baller in Austria during the 1950s, is one of the most celebrat...
Metal
$490
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
Beautiful Walter Bosse Austrian Bronze Bear Bottle Opener 1950s
By Walter Bosse
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Early 1950s - 1960s Austrian Walter Bosse Figurine An elegant early 1950s - 1960s figurine, crafted in Austria and exemplary of mid-century Austrian bronze design. The piece display...
Bronze
$290
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
$360
H 0.5 in W 4 in D 3 in
Walter Bosse Fish Mid-Century Brass Bowl Ashtray Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist brass bowl or ashtray in the shape of a fish. A humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by Hertha Baller Austria in the 1950s. Made of brass, in good condition...
Brass
Sold
H 2 in W 3.5 in D 1 in
Walter Bosse Monkey Toothpick Holder Stand by Hertha Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Vienna, AT
A very charming Austrian toothpick holder, displaying a monkey. A very humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by Baller Austria in the 1950s. Made of brass, in excellent condition.
Brass