Art Nouveau Edelweiss Relief Pottery Vase, Circa 1890–1915

Details

Description

Art Nouveau Edelweiss Relief Vase, Mold No. 6839 — German or Bohemian Art Pottery, Circa 1890–1915

A beautifully modeled example … Read more Art Nouveau Edelweiss Relief Vase, Mold No. 6839 — German or Bohemian Art Pottery, Circa 1890–1915

A beautifully modeled example of Central European Art Pottery, this richly glazed vase embodies the romantic spirit of the Alpine region through its sculptural Edelweiss motif and luminous cobalt hues.

The piece, impressed with the mold number 6839, is characteristic of late 19th- to early 20th-century production from German, Austrian, or Bohemian ceramic houses known for their decorative wares and finely executed majolica-style reliefs. The four-digit numbering follows the established practice of continental factories such as Villeroy & Boch, Schramberg, and Wächtersbach, used to catalog thousands of distinct forms.

Design and Form
The vase features a rounded, globular body with a narrow neck and slightly flared rim. Its surface is finished in a deep, lustrous blue glaze that transitions to lighter, misty tones near the base, evoking the atmospheric beauty of a mountain landscape. Across the body, high-relief Edelweiss blossoms and foliage are molded in exquisite detail — the white and pale-yellow flowers set vividly against the midnight glaze.

Artistic and Historical Context
This form of high-relief decoration, often described as majolica-style or barbotine, was a hallmark of the Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) era. Makers throughout Central Europe embraced this technique to capture naturalistic themes in vibrant color and dimensional surface texture. The Alpine motif, particularly the Edelweiss flower, reflects the turn-of-the-century fascination with nature and regional identity.

Condition and Finish
The glaze retains a brilliant gloss, the modeling remains crisp and deeply defined, enhancing both tactile and visual appeal.

A fine and authentic example of Central European Art Pottery, this vase combines sculptural craftsmanship with the lyrical design sensibilities of the Art Nouveau movement — a timeless tribute to Alpine beauty rendered in clay and glaze. See less