Walter Bosse Majolika Bird

A stylised bird figurine designed by Walter Bosse for the majolica ceramic workshop of Karlsruhe, Germany, circa 1960.

Although best remembered for his "Black Golden Line" of Modernist brass objects, Bosse began his design career working in ceramics, making animals and "grotesques". Their popularity led to Bosse opening his own ceramics gallery in Austria in the 1940s. Following this, Bosse moved to brass and bronze, using his early pottery figures as models.

In 1953, Bosse moved to Iserlohn, Germany, where he set up a new shop and continued production. This bird dates from this period when Bosse was also collaborating with Karlsruhe state majolika workshop, around 200 miles South of Iserlohn.

The bird, which some refer to as a crow, is an excellent example of Bosse’s work with Karlsruhe. The sculptural form of the bird is simple yet superbly characterful and Modern.

A purply black metallic, yet matt, glaze covers the main body of bird. Its beak is glazed in a glossy orange, whilst the base features a speckled green glaze, reminiscent of an ornate moss.