FRIEDRICH GOLDSCHEIDER (1845 - 1897) Terracotta bust - Austria, 19th century

Height x width x depth: 43 x 35 x 20 cm.

Important terracotta sculpture by Friedrich Goldscheider with brown patina depicting a boy with his head bowed, dating back to around the end of the 19th century. Marked on the back base with a rectangular stamp no. 92*2 - 51 - 35. Signed: “Hannoun” on the front.
Born on November 6, 1845, in Plzeň (then Pilsen, Bohemia, Austro-Hungarian Empire). 
 • Died on January 19, 1897, in Nice, France. 
 • Founder in 1885 of the Goldscheider Porcelain Manufactory & Majolica Factory (Vienna), which became a leading company in ceramics, terracotta, majolica, and bronze. 


Career and activities
 • In his youth, he began working in the ceramics and clay industry in his native region. 
 • He moved to Vienna (around 1873 according to some sources, others indicate 1878) after marrying Regina Lewit. 
 • In 1885, he officially opened his factory in Vienna, focusing on the artistic mass production of terracotta, majolica, faience, and bronze objects. 
 • The company participated in numerous international exhibitions, winning prizes and medals (for example, at the 1889 Paris Expo) thanks to the artistic and technical quality of its pieces. 
 • The style of production embraced various periods: historical revival, Jugendstil/Art Nouveau, and later Art Deco. 

1. Robert E. Dechant, Filipp Goldscheider, Goldscheider: History, Figures and Figurines, 1885–Goldscheider 2000, Arnoldsche Art Publishers, Stuttgart, 2007.
→ This is the international reference monograph. It analyzes the history of the manufacturer, the models, the collaborating artists, and includes an extensive catalog raisonné with model numbers, photos, and marks.
 2. Walter Kächele, Wiener Keramik und Porzellan: 1883–1938, Vienna, 1991.
→ It contains a chapter dedicated to the Goldscheider Porcelain Manufactory, with comparisons between the main Viennese companies (Amphora, Keramos, etc.).
 3. Ernst Ploil, Rainald Franz (eds.), Wiener Keramik und Glas 1900–1930, MAK – Österreichisches Museum für angewandte Kunst, Vienna, 2013.
→ Exhibition catalogue with extensive sections on Art Nouveau and Art Deco ceramics and sculptures from the Vienna area, including examples from Goldscheider.
 4. Yvonne Markowitz, Julie Hall, Art Nouveau and Art Deco Ceramics: From the Wiener Werkstätte to Goldscheider, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, 2015.
→ Academic analysis of Goldscheider's contribution to the development of Viennese art ceramics.

Item condition grading: **** good.
Slight brown discoloration in some areas (see photo).