Bookend with owl of Athena Gustav Gurschner ca. 1907

The versatile sculptor Gustav Gurschner was an artist between the times, as this accessory for a library impressively shows. Living at the turn of the 20th century, Gurschner could make use of the well-known formal canon of the cultured bourgeoisie and develop his own formal language from it.
This bookend is a fine example. An owl perches on a stair-like base and seems to be observing its surroundings with a keen eye. From a height, its vigilant gaze wanders downwards. It is no coincidence that Gurschner chooses an owl as adorning animal for this bookend. It is the intelligent and courageous companion of the Greek goddess Athena, goddess of wisdom. As Athena was also considered the patroness of the arts and sciences, the watchful owl fits well in a library. As so very characteristic of Gurschner, we can find ornaments in relief also on this object, like the central medallion with spiral pattern.