Vase "Frühlingswinde“ Amphora Nornen-Serie by Eduard Stellmacher, 1901-1902

Model #4598. Hard Earthenware. Riessner, Stellmacher and Kessel (RSt&K), consistently marked pieces with the tradename “Amphora” by the late 1890s and became known by that name. The ...

Model #4544. Hard Earthenware. Riessner, Stellmacher and Kessel (RSt&K), consistently marked pieces with the tradename “Amphora” by the late 1890s and became known by that name. The ...

Model #4598. Hard Earthenware. Riessner, Stellmacher and Kessel (RSt&K), consistently marked pieces with the tradename “Amphora” by the late 1890s and became known by that name. The ...

Model #4619 Riessner, Stellmacher and Kessel (RSt&K), consistently marked pieces with the tradename “Amphora” by the late 1890s and became known by that name. The Amphora pottery fa...

This late 19th century porcelain vase was designed by Eduard Stellmacher for Riessner, Stellmacher & Kessel Amphora of Turn-Teplitz, Bohemia. The piece has a Classic Art Nouveau form and features a dimensional nymph partially encased in the leaves of a lily of the valley plant. The maiden's body is accented by two delicate arched tendrils finished in gilt which bear small white lily of the valley blossoms, also accented in gilt. The remainder of the piece is painted in shades of light green and ochre with gilt highlights. An example of this shape with similar painted decoration can be seen on page 37 of Richard L. Scott's 'Ceramics From The House Of Amphora 1890-1915.' As an antique item, the vase shows appropriate signs of age consisting of wear to the gilded decoration along with a shallow chip on one of the ridged leaves on the back of the piece. The foot is 4" in diameter and bears the red RStK mark reading "RStK TURN Teplitz...

Model #2 Eduard Stellmacher and Co, Porzellanfabrik und Kunstkeramische Industriewerke Driven to establish a new company that produced luxury porcelain and ceramic items based on his own aesthetic aspirations, Stellmacher left Amphora when the workshop was at its most prosperous, in 1904. Together with entrepreneur Karl Frank, who provided the financial backing, he founded Ed. Stellmacher & Co. in Turn-Teplitz in 1905. From the outset, Stellmacher worked hard to achieve a major position among other high-end ceramic art producers. He believed the success of the company would depend on his products of “appropriate methods and unerring quality, perfect from both the technical and artistic sides”. Stellmacher based his first collection on artistically progressive products, pieces he believed would be in high demand. The greater part of the designs were either large vases complemented with sculptures of fantastic dragons or natural animals. With this series, Stellmacher continued the themes he had created for Amphora from 1899-1902, however, his naturalistic renderings of animals was even more elaborately precise. He developed a special ceramic material called refined earthenware, which minimized the shrinkage that was common during firing and allowed for greater preservation of details in the original models. Unfortunately, by 1905, contrary to Stellmacher’s plans, there was little to no demand for objects of this type. Very few pieces exist today as very few were originally produced. Even after redirecting the company to produce commercial goods Stellmacher still could not ward off the company’s demise. By 1910 the Stellmacher & Co. fell into bankruptcy and was liquidated. Art Nouveau Dragon...