Candleholder Michael Powolny Wiener Keramik ca. 1907

With the putto as a ceramic motif, Powolny created a central theme that played an important role both in the production of “Wiener Keramik” and in his overall work. The numerous variations of the putti, also within the realm of utilitarian ceramics, testify to the great popularity of these figures at the beginning of the 20th century.

One particularly beautiful example is our candlestick with the putto carrying flowers. This figure is a variation of spring in Powolny’s “Four Seasons” series. The naked putto stands on a slightly curved, round base. The colorful flowers, which represent the attribute of spring, surround the candle holder. The smooth, ivory-white body of the putto highlights the gloss of the glaze and the vibrant colors of the flowers. The ornamental flowers combined with the white flesh tone evoke contemporary Jugendstil painting.

The model is well documented through various archival photographs of the Wiener Werkstätte and is listed in the Catalogue Raisonné. In 1912, the black-and-white version of this candlestick was exhibited at the “Spring Exhibition of Austrian Applied Arts” at the Austrian Museum of Art and Industry, alongside other works by the artist.