Cockatoo with fruit basket Vereinigte Wiener und Gmundner Keramik ca. 1913-19

Representations of birds in porcelain and ceramics have their origins in the princely tradition of maintaining collections of animals, which were seen as microcosms of the universe and symbols of royal power and wealth. These collections often included exotic birds such as parrots, admired for their intelligence, rarity, and brilliantly colored plumage.
Already in the 18th century, German and English porcelain manufactories produced a wide range of bird sculptures, some of them life-sized, which served as prestigious collector’s items and were displayed in the collections and residences of nobles.

Building on this tradition, 20th-century ceramic artists, such as Michael Powolny, designed figures of exotic birds, including parrots. The life-sized cockatoo, perched on a fruit basket with flowers, bears similarities to Powolny’s style. Powolny, co-founder of Wiener Keramik, had a particular fondness for animal figures and playful, imaginative designs. A hallmark of his works is the rich and colorful floral and fruit adornments that often accompany his figures.
The cockatoo bears the marks of both Wiener and Gmundner Keramik, which merged in May 1913 to form Vereinigte Wiener und Gmundner Keramik. Since the two marks scarcely appear after 1919, the creation of this cockatoo can be dated to the period between 1913 and 1919. Due to ist stunning vibrancy, this cockatoo is a decorative and buoyant collector’s item.