STONE IV
STONE IV
Karl Rössler
Austria, Vienna, circa 1890
Lot Closed
January 17, 02:52 PM GMT
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A pair of hardstone, silver and enamel vases, Karl Rössler, Vienna, circa 1890,
of baluster shape, the detachable lid of the first, mounted with an enamelled bust of Liberty Enlightening the World, the other, with that of Minerva, each resting on a lapis lazuli cube, resting on a circular base decorated with scrollwork, the domed lid inlaid in bands of lapis lazuli, the handles shaped as canephorae alternating with mermen, in vivid colours of enamel, the mounts with pierced strapwork in high relief, representing classical putti alternating with scrollwork, on a circular spreading foot, within a geometrically decorated enamel border, resting on four feet shaped as lion masks with translucent blue enamel snounts, maker’s mark, control mark,
52cm. high, 22.5cm. wide, 18cm. deep
The choice of a bust of Liberty Enlightening the World, also known as the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island, New York City, as an embellishment for the lid of one of the vases in the present lot may at first seem unusual. It is, however, worth remembering that the figure designed by the French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi (1834-1904), dedicated by the people of France to the US on 28 October 1886, and until today one of the most recognisable icons of freedom, was based on Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty.
For the second vase, the goldsmith and maker of the present lot – Karl Rössler – chose to represent a more classical Roman goddess. Minerva is the goddess of wisdom, justice, law, victory, and the sponsor of arts and trade. As such, Rössler combined somewhat standardised elements of classical Renaissance revivalism for which the Austro-Hungarian goldsmiths became so famous for, with a symbol of immediately recognisable contemporary history in 1886, which is rather rare in late 19th century Viennese art works by Rössler, Ratzersdorfer and his contemporaries.
Interestingly, the relationship between Libertas and Minerva was also referred to when a bronze figure of Minerva was commissioned by Charles Higgins, an Irish immigrant and later prominent Brooklyn businessman, in the late 19th century and unveiled at the highest point in Brooklyn in 1920, from where the goddess of wisdom, justice, law and victory has an unobstructed view at Lady Liberty.
For a catalogue note on the Viennese goldsmith Karl Rössler, please see lot 53 in this sale.