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"The Kiss, " Romantic, Rare Bronze Inkwell/Pen Tray with Nudes and Aquatic Motif

About the Item

Rare and striking, this large, bronze desk accessory, a combination inkwell and large pen tray, depicts nude male and female figures, shown at the crest of a wave, in the midst of a gentle kiss. This sculpture puts the couple in an aquatic setting, almost as if they are mermaid and merman, with the movement of water and the cresting of waves shown throughout the piece. The sculptor, Otto Strandman, was known in Sweden for his nude figures, and created a number of works in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. This bronze was cast by the famous Herman Bergman foundry located at the time in central Stockholm, which also cast two famous sculptures by Carl Milles: “Poseidon” in Gothenburg and “Orpheus” in Stockholm. This piece is signed and displays the foundry mark; it retains its original bronze lid for the inkwell.
  • Creator:
    Otto Strandman (Sculptor)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 6.25 in (15.88 cm)Width: 15 in (38.1 cm)Depth: 10 in (25.4 cm)
  • Style:
    Art Nouveau (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1920
  • Condition:
    Overall excellent; the glue from an old label on the reverse side has affected the patina.
  • Seller Location:
    Philadelphia, PA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU865116823912

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