Till Eulenspiegel Writing Set in Ceramic attributed to Michael Powolny, Austria, 1919

Till Eulenspiegel in a brown-red jester's costume with bells, sitting with outstretched legs on a rectangular flat base plate, an owl between his feet and a low, four-sided inkwell with a glass container and lid to his left. Till Eulenspiegel is the protagonist of a Central Low German folk book that first appeared around 1510. According to this collection of droll stories, Eulenspiegel was a roaming scoundrel of the 14th century who pretended to be stupid but was actually clever and always played new tricks on his fellow men. Eulenspiegel's pranks often result from the fact that he takes a figurative phrase literally. The book, whose author remained unknown, became a bestseller as early as the 16th century. 'Eulenspiegel' made his main entrance in English- speaking culture late in the nineteenth century as 'Owlglass', but was first mentioned in English literature by Ben Jonson in his comedic play The Alchemist. By Michael Powolny (1871 - 1954) Nowadays, art experts attest Michael Powolny’s work as the work of one of the most important ceramic artists and designers of Austrian Art Nouveau. Powolny's companions and successors were significantly influenced by him, since he had left behind a work that was extremely important for Viennese ceramic art. Powolny's putti - many of them made on behalf of Wiener Keramik (WK) - are sought after by knowledgeable Art Nouveau collectors, both because of their modeling quality and because of the endearing and distinctive appearance. Manufactured by Gmunden Ceramics ceramic, bright earthenware, glossy finish, multicolored hand-painting designed ca. 1907, made circa 1919 Marks: KG+flower pot - Keramik Gmunden /= Gmunden Ceamics Model number 109 Dimensions: height: 17,0 cm / 6.69 in width: 30,5 cm / 12.00 in depth: 15,5 cm / 6.10 in Bibliography: - Thomas Arlt / Arthur Weilinger, WIENER KERAMIK / VIENNA CERAMICS Bertold Löffler, Michael Powolny, Werkverzeichnis / Catalog of works, 2018, Wien / Vienna; Page 256, Number 109 - Waltraud Neuwirth, Markenlexikon für Kunstgewerbe (3), Wiener Keramik, Modelle 1906-13 / (= Encyclopedia of Marks of Applied Arts / Viennese Ceramics - models 1906-13); Page 98, Number 109 - Elisabeth Frottier, Michael Powolny, Keramik und Glas aus Wien 1900 bis 1950 (= Ceramic and glass from Vienna 1900 to 1950); Catalog of works from Page 193, WV 58, Page 273 Company brands and artist's signatures. Condition: very good.