19th Century Orientalist Terracotta Bust of an Arab

Details

Description

Rare polychrome terracotta orientalist bust of an arab, bearing the mark r st k, for riessner, stellmacher, and kessel, as … Read more Rare polychrome terracotta orientalist bust of an arab, bearing the mark r st k, for riessner, stellmacher, and kessel, as well as the number 1525.

the features are exceptionally fine, rendering the figure very expressive and lifelike.

good overall condition, with chips to the clothing and beard (see photos).

height 46 cm, 32 x 18 cm

bibliography: a similar model is reproduced in "africanist and orientalist terracottas," by stéphane richemond, published by editions de l'amateur, p. 127.

son of the ceramist alfred stellmacher (1837-1906), eduard stellmacher was born in 1868, but the exact date of his death is unknown. A sculptor like his father, eduard inherited part of his father's business along with three other artists: hans riessner, a painter, his brother karl, and joseph kessel, his employees and sons-in-law.

their specialty was ivory-white porcelain. By 1894, the factory employed 250 people and had stores in paris and berlin.
two years later, it officially adopted the name "riessner, stellmacher & kessel."
in 1910, eduard's factory went bankrupt and was liquidated two years later. This piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution See less