Centerpiece Gustav Gurschner K.K. Kunst-Erzgiesserei ca. 1907

This centerpiece by Gustav Gurschner is a particularly fine example of the sophisticated fusion of function and ornamentation that characterized the refined domestic culture of Viennese Jugendstil around 1900.
The three-legged base, cast in patinated bronze, is composed of three symmetrically arranged panthers with outstretched wings. These dynamic, mythologically inspired figures not only form the structural support but also serve as holders for a finely polished marble bowl.

The interplay of organic animal form, symbolic allusion, and geometric clarity is typical of Gurschner’s designs, which move fluidly between Historicism, Symbolism, and Art Nouveau.
A masterfully crafted object that impresses both as a utilitarian item and as a decorative work of art—brilliantly embodying the core idea of the Gesamtkunstwerk central to the Viennese Jugendstil.