Preiss

This piece is called Con Brio, an Italian musical term meaning With Brilliance or With Spirit

Ferdinand Preiss. The Greatest Art Deco Sculptor of Them All? Johann Philipp Ferdinand Preiss – regarded as one of the leading ivory carvers in the Art Déco era of the 1920s and 1930s – was born in Erbach (Oderwald), Germany, on February 13, 1882. His mother hailed from a family of traditional ivory carvers, while his father owned and managed a local hotel, the Preiss Hotel. At the young age of 15, Ferdinand lost both his parents, one after the other, within a short span of time. Ferdinand and his five siblings were put under the care of various friends and relatives. Fortunately, Ferdinand went to live with the family of the then famous ivory carver Philipp Willmann (1846–1910), from whom he learned the art of ivory carving. It was during his apprenticeship under Willmann that Ferdinand picked up the finer nuances of ivory carving and emerged as one of the finest ivory carvers of those times. In 1901, at the age of 19, Ferdinand left Willmann’s workshop and traveled to Milan, Rome and Paris, while earning his living as a modeller. In 1905, while working for Carl Haebler in Baden-Baden, he got acquainted with a fellow ivory carver, Arthur Kassler from Berlin, who later became his business partner. Together, they founded a company named Preiss & Kassler, dealing in ivory-carving business. They then moved to Berlin and launched a small workshop there, themselves working as ivory carvers/turners in the workshop. In 1907, cupid struck in the life of Ferdinand as Margartehe Emma Clara Hilme, a Berliner herself, walked into his life. After a short courtship, they got married. They were blessed with a son, Harry, and a daughter, Lucie. To start with, the sculpture collection at Preiss & Kassler consisted of small ivory carvings with motifs based on classical themes. In 1910, the company added two new carvers, Louis Kuchler and Ludwig Walther and shortened the company’s name to PK. The first ivory–bronze combination carvings were produced around this time, with the bronze casting done by a Berlin company by the name of Gladenbeck. Robert Kionsek from the Gladdenbeck foundry later joined PK and the company expanded gradually. By 1914, when the First World War broke out, PK had added four more employees, all outstanding ivory carvers from Erbach. Though during the war their business had slowed down, it picked up in 1920 in full bloom once the War ended. Ferdinand Preiss headed the artistic department, whereas Arthur Kassler took care of the commercial aspects of their company. The PK specialties included ivory–bronze (chryselphantine) cabinet sculptures mounted on onyx or marble base and sometimes also on mantelpiece clocks or lamp stands. Almost all these pieces of art were designed by Ferdinand himself and were produced in limited numbers. Many of these sculptures were exported to England and USA. Some of the early works of Ferdinand Preiss, inspired by the classical Grecian figures and antiques, included the statuettes of Phryne, Carmen, Salome, Aphrodite and Pomona. The post-War sculptures included exquisitely elegant ivory nudes, bronze–ivory dancers, bathers, couples, Olympians (for example, men and women playing tennis and golf, throwing a javelin or just holding an oar), historical figures and children (who can resist the charm of the delightful Sonny Boy in short trousers and sandals holding a book under his arm and standing on a brown onyx base!). Many of the subjects often included famous theatrical and sporting personalities of the day. During the peak of the Art Déco era, PK produced collectibles like Iphigenie, Cabaret Girl, Flame Dancer, Youth, Two Nudes Sitting With Clock and Schlittschuhlaeuferin. All the works of Ferdinand Preiss are epitomes of exquisite beauty and elegance and are considered as prized possessions even today. Unfortunately, the Berlin workshop stocking samples of his works was completely destroyed in 1945 due to a bomb attack in World War II. Call it providence or good luck, Ferdinand Preiss escaped watching the pathetic sight of the destruction of his workshop. He had died in 1943, at the age of 61, due to a brain tumor. And along with him died his company Preiss & Kassler. Copyright allartdeco.com. Information may be used but must acknowledge allartdeco.com. Please request details. Thank you. Bernard Penny