V RARE C1900 ART NOUVEAU ERNST WAHLISS ANTIQUE CERAMIC VASE BLACKBIRD DAWN CHORUS ENAMEL GOLD.

Ceramic vase Stamped in red: ALEXANDRA PORCELAIN WORKS, MADE IN AUSTRIA…TURN ROYAL VIENNA (CROWN)

IMPRESSED NO: 9011

HAND WRITTEN: D. 9333.

Art Nouveau period, circa 1905

Ernst Wahliss (Designer)

MEASUREMENTS: Height 13 1/2” x 7” diameter at widest point

Style: Art Nouveau (Of the Period)

Date of Manufacture circa 1905

Condition: Excellent with no chips just wear consistent with age.

This listing is for a truly magnificently hand painted art nouveau vase. The subjects are a pair of blackbirds in the light of the early morning sun, highlighted in gold…..sitting on a branch together…I like to think performing the “Dawn Chorus”. I can find no other notes or comparison vase….so quite a rare find. (Please let me know if you have one or know details about it!!)

The pair of blackbirds are sitting, the male of the species singing his heart out. and surrounded by what appears to be larch branches which carry on right up to the lip of the vase, intersected by a band surrounding the to of the vase with a series of triangular motives to resemble jewels, highlighted with a touch of green, black and grey. The soft cloud effect hand painted on the rest of the vase is a delightful foil to the birds and the moon….making a very nostalgic centrepiece for all generations….both bird and art lovers.

The base has a similar pattern that is at the background of the band at the top of the vase without the triangular jewel pattern.

The base is impressed with the number 9011 and the ROYAL VIENNA MADE IN AUSTRIA MARK ALEXANDRA PORCELAIN MARK IN RED, which I believe is for C1905.

Please see the last photo for similar style vase…..

RESEARCH NOTES:

Ernst Wahliss was born in 1836. He was a leading Vienna retailer in porcelain and ceramic goods. His Vienna store was established in 1863. His business was so successful that he was able to open another store in London.

In 1894 Ernst Wahliss decided to take over the Alfred Stellmacher factory in Turn-Teplitz (situated in today's Czechia). He renamed the factory to Ernst Wahliss Kunst, Porzellan und Fayence Fabrik.

Ernst died in 1900. Two years later his sons, Hans and Erich, bought 600 moulds from the Imperial and Royal Porcelain Manufactory in Vienna. Using these molds they started making reproductions of Vienna porcelain.

In 1905 the company was renamed to Alexandra Porcelain Works Ernst Wahliss.

In 1907 the factory was acquired by Gerhard Martin Wahliss. In 1910 the factory focused on production of faience.

The factory temporarily closed due to the World War I. In 1921 it became part of Porzellanfabrik Union AG and in 1929 production ended.