HIGHLIGHT

This is a baboon mask by Max Esser (1885-1945), one of the representative modelers for Meissen porcelain in the 20th century. In 1908, the artist began working in Schwarzburg workshops for porcelain art where he showed outstanding modeling skills. In 1920, he was hired by Meissen porcelain manufactory and in which he became the head of the workshop four years later. In Meissen manufactory, he was known for his sculptures of Art Deco style made with boettger stoneware, among which the animal sculptures were the most famous ones. At the 1937 World Exhibition in Paris, his sculpture “Otter” was awarded a Grand Prix. The "animal mask" series out from the boettger stoneware is an epoch-making series that is totally different from the conventional animal-themed Meissen porcelains. As a large-sized work in this series, this baboon mask has the overwhelming power and the exquisite details.