Master Art

designed by: Michael Powolny, around 1915/16
executed by: Vereinigte Wiener und Gmundner Keramik, 1915–1919

spring: H 79 cm
summer: H 83 cm
autumn: H 78 cm
winter: H 82 cm

"All four models for this 'Four Seasons' putto series are by the Austrian ceramicist, sculptor, glass and metal artist Michael Powolny. They were in serial production at 'Vereinigte Wiener und Gmundner Keramik' from 1915 to 1919 and also at the Wienerberger Company from 1915 onwards. In the famous Vienna Diana Baths, they were in the vestibule to the women’s baths in a double, coloured version set in niches designed by Otto Prutscher. There are a number of illustrations in contemporary literature and they are certainly regarded as one of the ceramicist’s special masterpieces. I have never seen this black and white version before and the variation seems to be very rare. These are particularly valuable objects by the famous ceramicist because of their rarity, and illustrations of them will certainly be included in any new addition of the Powolny monograph.” (Dr. Elisabeth Frottier, author of the Powolny monograph, University of Applied Arts, Vienna, 2012).