Bronze vase with Etruscan ornamentation Gustav Gurschner ca. 1907

This impressive vase is a wonderful example of the fascination Gurschner’s archaic vessels still exert to the present day. Almost 30 centimetres in height, its square shape alone gives it a massive appearance. The most distinctive feature, however, is the protruding decoration in the upper part, which combines two-dimensional and highly sculptural elements. It bears an ornamentation typical of Gurschner with a Nordic and geometric relief, such as endless loops and segmented circles, enhanced with stylized draperies. In its plasticity, this striking vase is almost reminiscent of an Art Deco-object.
Form, decoration and patina are those three essential elements Gurschner uses to achieve completely different effects. The version with its silver-plated ornaments and a dark greenish patina – as seen here – appears far more archaic than the same model embellished with gold-polished decoration. However, it is difficult to resist the strong attraction of both objects and give us an idea why Gurschner’s works are still so popular with Jugendstil collectors.