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The art work featured in this section is now featured in our online gallery and is available for sale
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Czech Masters of the early 20th Century,
We offer a varied sample selection of Czech sculpture in bronze, ceramic and wood. All works are from the artist's lifetime with exception of Otto Gutfreund's Don Quixote.
These are just a few examples from the website of the many artists we currently own and are for sale
These works cover Art Nouveau , Symbolist , Expressionist , Impressionist and Art Deco.
Many of these sculptures are unique and others were cast in very limited quantities.
Sothebys and Christies have had great success in the last two years in their sale rooms with Czech sculpture and paintings and for the last 12 years
we have pioneered Czech sculpture and paintings circa 1880-1940 on our website and gallery and our store fronts on Artnet and Artprice.
For more information email or call us: jeanne@jennmaur.com or 415 441 3977
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VILIM AMORT (CZECH 1864-1913) |
Vilim (William)Amort was born in 1864 in Modřany (a suburb of Prague) and died on September 5th, 1913 in Smíchov, Prague. Amort was considered a Czech/Austrian sculptor who never received the full aclaim he deserved. He worked with his uncle and cousins Vaclav Amort and Vlastimil Amort in the city of Olmütz and also many locations in Prague such as in the Garden Květnice. Vilim Amort also taught sculpture at an art school in the city, run by the painter Rabenal. He created a number of decorative elements and busts of famous people for public monuments located both in Olmütz and in Prague (such as the Municipal Savings Bank of Prague). Vilim Amort also created decorations for the Schierův house on the corner of Old Town Square, Prague. The interior decoration of a sculpture with Christ Crucified of the Czechoslavakian Church of the Hussite was created by Vilim Amort. In addition, a street was named after Vilim Amort in Modřany. Various surviving diaries of Amort reflect his mental states concerning his work disputes such those for his design submitted in the first competition for the Hus monument in Prague in 1893. Amort's winning design was sharply criticised and in the end the monument to Jan Hus in the Old Town Square was created by Ladislav Šaloun (work was begun in 1903 and finally unofficially revealed on the 6th of July 1915( the 500th anniversary of Jan Hus's death.)
Ref: E. Benezit Dictionnaire des Peintres Sculpteurs Dessinateurs et Graveurs 1999 edition
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BEDRICH BENDELMAYER (CZECH 1872-1932) |
| Bedrich Bendelmayer, sculptor and architect, was responsible for sculptures and all architectural work at the Hotel Central from 1899-1902 , the House at U Prasne Brany from 1903 -1904 and for the Grand Hotel Europa in Prague in 1906. Later in the 1920's he designed sculptures and architecture at the Bath house in Plzen (Pilsen). |
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| BOHUMIR FRANTISEK ANTONIN CERMAK (CZECH 1882 -1961) |
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Bohumír Frantisek Antonín Cermak (Czech1882 -1961) " Die Sünde " (The Sin) ( Eve). The present sculpture is inspired by the works of his mentor and teacher, Austrian symbolist artist Otto Wagner (1841-1918), and by Gustav Klimt (1862-1918). It also bears considerable similarity to certain symbolist sculptures and works by Franz Von Stuck (1863 - 1928).
High quality cast bronze sculpture of Eve, with gilded hair, her body in antique brown and also with applied gilding to her anklets. Her head is encircled with a dark brown/black snake with dark green highlights and decorative markings. Artists signature inscribed and illegible date (either19 '07 or 19 '04), and with full foundry marks and stamps for Bedrich Bendelmayer of Prague, the premier caster and founder in Prague of fine art sculpture from the late 19th and early 20th century.
There are many design elements in the snake's markings similar to metal work details created by this artist in his works dating to around 1910. Bohumír Cermak's work before the First World War demonstrated principles of Viennese Modernism. He followed in the footsteps of Josef Hoffmann and the Wiener Werkstätte. After returning to the Czech Republic he founded The Cermak Handicraft Workshop in Brno (1910). His studio designed ceramics and unusual metal work in the secessionist style. Cermak was also an architect of buildings (notably the Brno Exhibition Centre). He was also involved in numerous exhibitions worldwide, including the United States. The city of Brno is the second largest city after Prague in Czech Republic and has always been a hot bed for artists called"Moravians". Brno was the first city at the turn of the 20th century to be connected directly by rail to Vienna .
Dimensions: Height 25.5 inches or 65.5 cm
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Bohumír Cermák, Villa Andera life size bronze sculpture 1934 Source: Brno Secesni 1934 |
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Bohumír Cermák, Bronze sculpture and interior vestibule of a residential building, 1912 Source: Brno Secesni 1912 |
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Bohumír Cermák, Highly Important Poly chrome and enamel gilded metal jardiniere Source : Dorotheum Vienna November 25 th 2010 lot 932 : Work from 1910/1812 |
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Bohumír Cermák, Bronze Bonbonierre 1910 Source : Auction House Zezula March 21 st 2009 Brno |
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| JAN VITEZSLAV DUSEK (CZECH 1891-1966) |
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Jan Vitezslav Dusek (Czech 1891-1966) "Hercules" Monumental bronze sculpture circa 1925 signed and with foundry marks for Franta Anyz. Dusek studied in Vienna in 1914 and in the early 1920's at the Academie de la grand Chaumiere Paris. He also studied with Emile Antoine Bourdelle in Paris before returning to Prague in 1924. Art competitions were held as part of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Medals were awarded in five categories, architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture , for works inspired by sport-related themes. Jan Vitezslav Dusek chose perhaps his most iconic work the present sculpture of “Hercules” for consideration in this prestigious competition. In 1936 this sculpture was exhibited at the Berlin Olympics exhibit number 864. There are 3 photos in existence of this "Hercules" sculpture during the period when it was exhibited at the 1936 Olympics and was photographed there by Dusek's lifelong friend, Czech photographer Josef Jindrich. (Both Dusek and Jindrich attended the Berlin Olympics in 1936). A link is included below to the web page where the three 1936 photos of Hercules at the Berlin Exhibition can be viewed .http://sechtl-vosecek.ucw.cz/en/cml/dir/berlin_1936_35mm.html
Dimensions:Total height 44 inches, by 19 inches in length, by 6 &1/2 inches in width |
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Jan Vitezslav Dusek (Czech 1891-1966) 'Sokol Athlete" Historically important bronze sculpture. Signed, dated 1924, and with the city of Tabor inscribed, also bearing the foundry marks for Franta Anyz. This sculpture commemorates the Sokol athletic meeting of 1924 in the city of Tabor, Dusek's home town and where he built his studio in 1922. Sokol is the Czech word for Falcon, inspiring the present bronze --showing an athlete about to soar from the top step of a podium. Dusek, the city of Tabor's favored sculptor, created this sculpture for the event. Sokol was founded in 1862 and played an important part in the development of Czech Nationalism by providing a forum for the spread of mass-based nationalist ideologies. The Sokol movement consciously traced its roots in physical education to the athletes and warriors of ancient Greece. In 1926 this sculpture was exhibited at the XV. Esposizione Internationale d'Arte della Città di Venezia , exhibit number 1077.
Dimensions: Total height 41inches by 32 inches in width
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HANUS FOLKMANN (CZECH 1876-1936) |
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JOSEF KUBICEK (CZECH 1890-?) |
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OTTO GUTFREUND (CZECH 1889-1927) |
Otto Gutfreund, born in Prague 1889, was one of the leading cubist sculptors of his time. Between the years of 1909 and 1910 he was a student at the Chaumiere school in Paris where he studied under Bourdelle. Before returning home in 1911, he visited England, Belgium, Holland and Germany, and by 1912 he was exhibiting in Prague. In 1914 he moved back to Paris and within a year he had joined the Foreign Legion. It was in 1920 that he moved permanently to Prague and he became a member of the Manes Union of Artists. |
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JAROSLAV HOREJC (CZECH,
1886 -1983)
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Jaroslav Horejc is unquestionably one of the most important sculptors of the Art deco period. At the age of 14 he began working in a lithographic workshop. After a few weeks he started to engrave glass and metal and carve stone. From 1906 to 1910 he was a student at the Prague School of Art. The sculptor Stanislava Suchardy was one of the first to recognize Horejc's incredible talent and he allowed Horejc to develop his unique style unhindered. By 1912 Horejc had won many awards and was made a Professor at the Prague School of Arts untill his retirement from the position in 1949. Many of his ideas for bronze sculptures are derived either from Greek myths or from the Old Testament. As one the founding members of the Sursum association of 1912 Horejc exhibited small bronze sculptures at various locations in Prague and throughout his life at the Manes Exhibitions.
His sculpture can be divided into 3 evolved styles and can be compared with the following sculptures from our inventory. His early works from 1912 to 1919 are similar to the "Allegory of Night". Works from the 1920 to early 1930's are similar to the unique wood carved bust "Olympia" and to the later works of the late 1930's "Amphitrite" and "Medusa". His 1940's "Torso" was in a more moderne style. Throughout Horejc's life he created many public monuments and architectural structures. We include here a link to a Czech web site full of illustrations that includes his glass vessels for which he won the Grand Prix at the 1925 Paris Exposition Des Arts Décoratifs . Jaroslav Horejc was an artist whose unique style was recognizable right away from his earliest works. He was versatile in many mediums including wood carving (the rarest pieces to find), bronze sculpture, jewelry, glass, utilitarian metal objects, medals and architectural elements. He created over 3000 different works during his long and productive lifetime. The bulk of his work he donated in 1972 to the City of Prague for their National Museum.
http://horejc.proweb.cz/
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Jaroslav Horejc (Czech 1886-1983) "Allegory of Night," Superb and rare, circa 1918 cast of a bare breasted woman in tight full length robes shielding a small oil lamp in her hands, standing on an irregular bronze base that depicts strange creatures of the night. Signed in the bronze.
Dimensions: Total height 21&1/2 inches. Height of marble base alone 2 inches |
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Jaroslav Horejc (Czech, 1886-1983)"Olympia" .Signed and titled unique wood sculpture, circa 1930.
Dimensions: Height 12 inches |
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Jaroslav Horejc (Czech, 1886-1983) "Amphitrite", signed ,with foundry seal, bronze possibly cast in the 1960's
Dimensions: 45 inches high
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Jaroslav Horejc (Czech, 1886-1983) "Medusa", Model Circa 1920, signed, bronze possibly cast in the 1960s
Dimensions: 20 inches high with black marble base
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BRETISLAV BENDA (CZECH 1897-1983) |
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MARIO KORBEL (CZECH/AMERICAN 1882-1954) |
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KAREL LIDICKY (CZECH 1900-1976) |
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JOSEF VACLAV MYSLBEK (CZECH 1828-1922) |
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LADISLAV SALOUN (CZECH 1870-1946) |
| Saloun was one of the leading sculptors in the Art Nouveau and Symbolist sculpture movement in the Czech Republic. His monumental sculpture to Jan Hus dominates Wenceslas square in Prague. Saloun's villa in Vinohrady became a hot bed for artists such as Alfons Mucha, Jakub Obrovsky and Frantisek Bilek. Saloun preferred large scale commissions. His smaller studies include "Wild Poppies" from 1905 and a set of facial studies from the same year. In 1915 Saloun's Jan Hus memorial (which had occupied nearly 15 years of his work) was unveiled. |
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BEDRICH STEFAN (CZECH 1896-1982) |
| A bronze sculpture of a Cubist inspired Bugatti type 35 racing car, 1924 - 1926, signed by the artist, numbered 1 out of 5 and cast before 1927. The racing car was cast using the cire perdue technique, whereas the banked racing curve was cast from fine French sand. Stefan made two trips from his home in Prague to Paris and this sculpture would have been modeled and cast before his style became one of Objective Realism in the late 1920's to the early 1930's. He was in the vanguard of this development although he had experimented in sythentic cubism as early as 1919. Stefan was also Oto Gutfreund's chief assistant for many years. Later in life (from 1940 to 1958) he taught at the Prague School of Decorative Arts. Stefan single handedly took Czech Sculpture to pure abstraction. His ideas were seized upon by a whole generation of Czech sculptors born in 1900 to 1903. This sculpture has the same dynamism as Ottakar Svec's Motorcyclist of 1924, another member of the Czech Kubismus Group of Sculptors known as the ''Strong Nine" (who exhibited as a group in 1922 at the Manes Gallery in Prague). Bedrich Stefan was a calm and quiet man who was deeply inspired by the works of his friend Gutfreund (who is considered perhaps the most important Czech 20th Century sculptor). Stefan always remained humble even as he exhibited alongside Arp, Giacometti, di Chirico, Klee, Mason, Miro and Tanguy in Paris as well as at the Manes Exhibitions in Prague. This Czech sculptor was highly important in the development of the Avant Garde -- which altered mainsteam appreciation of sculpture and brought it to a new level in the early 20th Century --to one of constructionalism and organic abstraction, a viewpoint not known before. Many of Bedrich Stefan's sculptures are in the Czech National Museum Prague. Czech Modernism, 1900-1945, Publisher: Houston, TX: Museum Of Fine Arts, 1990 Musee Rodin, Paris,TCHECOSLOVAQUE DE MYSLBEK A NOS JOURS 1968 Czech Sculpture 1800 -1939 National Museum of Wales 1983 |
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JAN STURSA (CZECH 1908-1925) |
| Stursa is of the most important Czech sculptors of the Modernist movement. He studied stone carving in Moravia - an area where many artists lived and came from.Stursa later moved to Germany and then to Prague. In Prague from 1899 to1904 he studied under the founder of the modern Czech style of sculpting, Josef Vaclav Myslbek, whose most famous sculpture is the the statue of Saint Wenceslas in the center of Prague. Stursa's early works from 1900 to 1914 are much more lyrical. As early as 1906 he began to show a far more modern style as in the present "Melancholy Girl"- that greatly infuriated his teacher . The Melancholy Girl, originally carved from deep grey French limestone, is recognized as one the great masterpieces of early Czech 20th century sculpture. By 1910 his female figures became significantly more cubist --a total departure from the early Art Nouveau style. His figure of Sulamit Rahu was unusually muscular and grotesque. In 1914 he was about to leave Prague to study in Paris with Antonine Bourdelle but on on the 3rd of August he joined the 81st Infantry instead and served until 1916 on the Carpathian front and there suffered acute mental and physical illness. Although he did not sculpt during this time - he involved himself in drawing. One of those drawings became the inspiration for his timeless symbolic sculpture completed in 1921- "Wounded " a sculpture that expresses the carnage of war like no other- a young soldier impaled on barbed wire in an almost balletic pose. Wounded is the most important sculpture of the modern movement of Czech sculpture and is an enduring symbol to the Czech Nation. Jan Stursa destroyed many of his old plaster works and took his own life in 1925. |
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Jan Stursa (Czech 1908-1925) unsigned female nude washing,with factory marks, circa 1910
Dimensions: Height 9 inches by 8 inches in length
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Jan Stursa (Czech 1880-1925) "Morning" 1911, porcelain signed and stamped Manes (Exhibition 1911) Graniton factory marks
Dimensions: Height 15 inches |
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Jan Stursa (Czech 1880-1925) " Pisen Noci" 1904-1905, ceramic figural group, unsigned
Dimensions: Height 9 inches by 11 inches in length |
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Jan Stursa (Czech 1880-1925) "Melancholy Girl" A terracotta signed sculpture circa 1910.
Dimensions: Height 11&1/2 inches
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Jan Stursa (Czech 1880-1925) "Melancholy Girl" A large Terracotta signed sculpture circa 1910.
Dimensions: Height 15&1/2 inches by 10 inches in width
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Jan Stursa (Czech, 1880 -1925) A painted plaster figure of the poet Karel Hlavacek from 1909, signed. Dimensions: Total height 14 inches by 7 inches in width by 7 inches in depth.
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Jan Stursa (Czech, 1880 -1925) A painted plaster head of the Czech actor Eduard Vojan, signed and dated 1919, also inscribed Vojan . Possibly from the artists atelier.
Dimensions: Total height 16&1/2 inches. |
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Jan Stursa ( Czech 1908-1925) "Wounded" bronze sculpture -The sculpture that expresses the carnage of war like no other- a young soldier impaled on barbed wire in an almost balletic pose. Wounded is the most important sculpture of the modern movement of Czech sculpture and is an enduring symbol to the Czech Nation. (Signed in the bronze.)
Dimensions: Total height 22 inches .(Height of bronze alone 19 inches)
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