"Rising Swan" Sculpture

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"Rising Swan" Sculpture

About the Item

Signed M. ESSER on the bronze base. H. sculpture 18.90 inches (48 cm), H. base: 4.92 inches (12,50 cm) Max Esser was in particular known as an animal sculptor and designer of porcelain figurines. But he also created fountains, religious work, ultra refined golden and silver decorative objects and medals. Esser developed the themes in animal sculpting that he learned from the 'animalier' master at the time, August Gaul, much further and enriched his animals by using craft techniques. His animal sculptures in bronze are mostly patinated or marqueted with gold and/or silver. After following from 1900 until 1903 practicums, Max Esser attented during a short time the ''Unterrichtsanstalt des Kunstgewerbemuseums Berlin' and the 'Königliche akademische Hochschule für die bildenden Künste' ('Berliner Akademie der Künste'). After this training as a sculptor, he was so fortunate to be the one and only student that was allowed to work together with the animalier Professor August Gaul (1869-1921) during the period 1904-1915. Esser debuted in 1906 at the 'Grosse Berliner Kunstausstellung' where from 1910 on his was exhibited on a yearly base. The purchase of his 'Parelhoen' ('Guinea Fowl') and 'Pauw-fazant' ('Peacock-Pheasant') by the 'Nationalgalerie' in Berlin (ca. 1914) made a reputable 'animalier' of him. At the 'Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques' in Paris in 1937, his sculpture of a 'Visotter' ('Otter') in Böttger stoneware won the 'Grand Prix'. Several china manufacturers used Esser’s models. From 1908 he was a fellow worker in the 'Schwarzburger Werkstätten für Porzellankunst' in Unterweissbach. He settled himself from 1920 until 1926 in Meissen, where he was employed by the 'Manufaktur Meissen'. It involves sculptures of groups of animals and birds created in the Roccoco period for Miessen by Kaendler or Kirchner. In 1924 he became head of a 'Meisteratelier'. Later on he created porcelain models for 'Porzellanfabrikant Lorenz Hutschenreuter', the 'Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin' and 'Rosenthal'. His monumental animalier work contained animal fountains such as the fox fountain in Schöneberg in 1912 and the Otter fountain in Berlin Siemensstadt in 1930, and the bison monument 'Wisentdenkmahl' in Schorfheide. Museum: Berlin Sources: Sources: Bénézit, E. (vol. 5) (1999), Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des peintres, sculpteurs, dessinateurs et graveurs de tous les temps et de tous les pays par un groupe d’écrivains spécialistes français et étrangers, Paris: Éditions Gründ, p. 191; Thieme, U., & Becker, F. (vol. 11) (1999), Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart, Leipzig: E. A. Seemann, p. 46; 150 Jaar Monumentale Animaliersculptuur – ZOO Antwerpen 3 juli – 12 september 1993 (1993) (exh. cat.), Antwerp: Esco, p. 31-31, 123 and 157.

Creator:
Max Esser (Sculptor)
Dimensions:
Height: 18.9 in (48.01 cm)Width: 27.56 in (70.01 cm)Depth: 13.39 in (34.02 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze,Marble
Place of Origin:
Germany
Period:
1930-1939
Date of Manufacture:
1930s
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Brussels & Antwerp, BE
Reference Number:
1stDibs: 130320951680