Vase Amphora “Fairy Tale Princess” ca. 1904

A specialty of the Amphora works is the use of so-called ivory porcelain. Particularly popular were the so-called portrait vases: vessels shaped from the finest clay and intricately adorned with relief-like appliqués, featuring depictions of female faces.
Around 1904, Nikolaus Kannhäuser, then director of the Amphora works, designed the décor titled “Fairy Tale Princess.” The central motif of the rounded vase is the delicately rendered face of a princess, draped in a lavishly decorated cloak and crowned with a tiara encrusted with gemstones. A sun behind her head frames her face like a golden halo. Her noble gown is painted in fine underglaze and embellished with elaborate golden decorations.

In the upper part of the vase, a forest of leaves in violet and gold is subtly suggested against a pale blue background. At the base of the vase, carmine-red flowers are depicted, set with round semi-precious stones. The central part of the vase is defined by a wide band with relief painting in matte gold, with the different sections of the vase separated horizontally by a bold ornamental band.
With ist combination of flat ornamental painting and gold appliqués, the vase is an outstanding example of Art Nouveau around 1900.