Pot with handles Gustav Gurschner ca. 1906

Gustav Gurschner shaped the decorative arts around 1900 with his small-scale sculptures, distinguished by a highly individual and unmistakable formal language.

In a manner characteristic of Gurschner, the vessel is strikingly divided into two parts: the upper section of the body is animated by a continuous relief band of rigorously structured circular ornaments. In contrast, the smooth, understated base provides a deliberate counterpoint, its calm and restrained design offsetting the rich decoration above. This interplay between ornament and surface is a defining feature of Gurschner’s work.
Three handles applied at the upper rim further emphasize the object’s archaic character. The piece is gilded, while the upper section has been patinated; signs of age-appropriate wear are present.
The vase brings together, in a compelling way, Gurschner’s remarkable inventiveness in ornamentation with a conscious return to archaic formal traditions, combined with a distinctly modern and timeless sensibility.