Walter Bosse Fish Brass Sculpture Toothpick Stand, Hertha Baller, Austria, 1950s
View Similar Items
Walter Bosse Fish Brass Sculpture Toothpick Stand, Hertha Baller, Austria, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Walter Bosse (Designer),Herta Baller (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 2.75 in (6.99 cm)Width: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)Depth: 1.25 in (3.18 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.
- Seller Location:Vienna, AT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU101529052573
Walter Bosse
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.
Herta Baller
- Walter Bosse Brass Cat Figurine Jewelry Ring Holder, Herta Baller Austria, 1950sBy Herta Baller, Walter BosseLocated in Vienna, ATA charming Austrian brass cat figurine originally made to be used as a pretzel holder, a decorative piece, very suitable as a ring holder. A very hu...Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBrass
- Walter Bosse Mid-Century Horse Brass Figurine, Hertha Baller, Austria, 1950sBy Herta Baller, Walter BosseLocated in Vienna, ATA lovely horse foal sculpture made of brass from the 1950s. Designed by Walter Bosse, executed by Hertha Baller. In very good condition with charming patina. We offer more Walter Bos...Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBrass
- Walter Bosse Monkey Salt and Pepper Shakers Set, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950sBy Herta Baller, Walter BosseLocated in Vienna, ATA 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...Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware
MaterialsGlass
- Walter Bosse Donkey Salt and Pepper Shaker Set, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950sBy Walter Bosse, Herta BallerLocated in Vienna, ATA 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...Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware
MaterialsMetal
- Walter Bosse Brass Dinner Bell Displaying a Cat by Herta Baller, Austria, 1950By Herta Baller, Walter BosseLocated in Vienna, ATA charming midcentury table bell displaying a cat. A very humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by Herta Baller Austria in the 1950s. Made of brass, in very good condition.Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBrass
- Walter Bosse Paragraph Lawyer Brass Sculpture, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950sBy Herta Baller, Walter BosseLocated in Vienna, ATA Midcentury brass figurine, displaying a paragraph form the 1950s. Designed by Walter Bosse, executed by Hertha Baller, Austria. In very g...Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsBrass
- Walter Bosse Toothpick Holder Donkey Set, Black Brass Glass, Hertha Baller, 1950By Walter Bosse, Herta BallerLocated in Hausmannstätten, ATA toothpick holder set in the form of a donkey designed by Walter Bosse and manufactured by Hertha Baller, Austria, Vienna, in midcentury in 1950s. The donkey is made of patinated and aged blackened brass. The toothpick holders are made of glass. This charming piece is an eyecatcher for every kitchen or dining table. About Walter Bosse and Hertha Baller: Walter Bosse (November 13, 1904–December 13, 1979) was a Viennese artist, designer, ceramist, potter, metalworker, and craftsman noted for his modernist bronze animal figurines...Category
Vintage 1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBrass
- Walter Bosse Brass Cat Figurine Pen Holder Stand, Baller Austria, 1950sBy Walter Bosse, Herta BallerLocated in Nuernberg, DEClassic early 1950s Austrian Bosse cat Figurine Collectible. Nice addition to your room or just for your collection of Austrian bronze items. Found at an estate sale in Vienna, Austr...Category
Vintage 1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBrass, Bronze
- Walter Bosse Brass Cat Figurine Pen Holder Stand, Baller Austria, 1950sBy Walter Bosse, Herta BallerLocated in Nuernberg, DEClassic early 1950s Austrian Bosse cat Figurine Collectible. Nice addition to your room or just for your collection of Austrian bronze items. Found at an estate sale in Vienna, Austr...Category
Vintage 1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBrass, Bronze
- Small Fish Figurine by Walter Bosse for Hertha BallerBy Herta Baller, Walter BosseLocated in Wien, ATSmall fish figurine by Walter Bosse for Hertha Baller Original condition.Category
Vintage 1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBrass
- Hedgehog Sculpture by Walter Bosse for Hertha BallerBy Herta Baller, Walter BosseLocated in Vienna, ATHedgehog by Walter Bosse for Hertha Baller.Category
Vintage 1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsMetal
- Walter Bosse Brass Cat Figurine Jewelry Ring Holder, Baller Austria, 1950sBy Walter Bosse, Herta BallerLocated in Nuernberg, DEClassic early 1950s Austrian Bosse cat Figurine Collectible. Nice addition to your room or just for your collection of Austrian bronze items. Found at an estate sale in Vienna, Austr...Category
Vintage 1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBronze
