19th Century Ceramics

A fine and charming pair of Austrian 19th century polychromed majolica hanging wall sculptures of an elderly couple peeking through a window, probably by Friedrich Goldscheider (Goldscheider'sche Porzellan-Manufactur und Majolica-Fabrik.) Each wall sculpture depicting an elderly man wearing glasses and a traditional cap with his arms extended forward as if it was reading a book or a newspaper. The other depicting an elderly lady, also peeking through a window, wearing a laced cap with a bow tie and shawl over her shoulders, her arms are also extended forward as if it was reading a book or a newspaper. The male figure stamped on the back "78 - II ." The lady figure stamped on the back "37 - 79." Vienna, circa 1890-1900. Man's height: 16 1/2 inches (41.9 cm.) Man's width: 13 3/4 inches (34.9 cm.) Depth: 8 1/2 inches (21.6 cm.) Lady's height: 15 1/2 inches (39.4 cm.) Lady's width: 13 3/4 inches (34.9 cm.) Lady's depth: 6 1/2 inches (16.5 cm.) Goldscheider Manufactory and Majolica Factory (German: Goldscheider'sche Porzellan-Manufactur und Majolica-Fabrik, (now) Goldscheider Keramik) is an Austrian ceramic manufactory. In 1885, Friedrich Goldscheider came from the small Bohemian city of Pilsen to Vienna and founded the Goldscheider Manufactory and Majolica Factory. It became one of the most influential ceramic manufactories of terracotta, faience and bronze objects in Austria with subsidiaries in Paris, Leipzig and Florence. For over half a century Goldscheider created masterpieces of historical revivalism, Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) and Art Deco. Famous artists such as Josef Lorenzl, Stefan Dakon, Ida Meisinger and the two perhaps best known Austrian ceramic artists Michael Powolny and Vally Wieselthier worked for Goldscheider. Several of the artists who worked for Goldscheider also worked for other Viennese studios, such as Augarten, Keramos or for the German brands Rosenthal and Meissen. The Goldscheider family emigrated in 1938 to United Kingdom and USA. Walter Goldscheider startet a new factory in Trenton, New Jersey and returned to Vienna in 1950. Marcel Goldscheider went to Stoke-on-Trent and produced figurative ceramics for Myott and opened his own studio in the 1950s in Hanley. Both brothers died in the early 1960s. More than 10,000 different models were created over a period of three generations. Since the very beginning many of these won first prizes and gold medals at innumerable world fairs, exhibitions and trade fairs. Goldscheider figures...