Figural candle holder Gustav Gurschner ca. 1900

Around 1900, Gustav Gurschner often combined everyday objects with figural elements, particularly female figures. A striking example of this approach is this candleholder, which the artist referred to as a Leuchterweibchen (“candle maiden”).
The female figure supports the candleholder with outstretched arms, while her flowing skirt forms the base of the piece. The finely modeled drapery conveys a sense of movement and elegance.

Gurschner’s design is emblematic of an era in which the female body was frequently stylized, idealized, and instrumentalized in art. In this fusion of erotically charged sculpture and utilitarian object, we see not only the designer’s aesthetic ambition but also a reflection of the period’s prevailing image of femininity.
Cast in dark-patinated bronze, the piece impresses with ist sculptural quality and the harmonious interplay between sensuality and function. As both a decorative object and a collectible, it stands as an authentic testament to the Viennese Art Nouveau style.