Container - Glass - Rare Secession glass.

Wiener Secession – rare scherenschnitt glass with classical scenes

Austria/Bohemia, circa 1915–1930

Fine square art glass vessel from the Vienna Secession era with an exceptionally black scherenschnitt (silhouette cut) decor on frosted glass. The four sides show classically styled silhouette compositions of remarkable graphic quality: a dog-drawn carriage with a naked figure, an antique hunting scene with a ibex, a monumental amphora vase with a thistle arrangement, and further ornamental representations.

The strictly geometric cube form combines with the reduced, flat black-and-white effect to form a characteristic example of the transition from the late Jugendstil to the Vienna Secession and early Art Deco. The surrounding gold-plated rim provides an elegant accent and underlines the high-quality craftsmanship.

Stylistically, the object is close to the designs of the milieu of the Wiener Werkstätte and recalls the graphic visual language of artists such as Koloman Moser or Josef Hoffmann. The use of antique silhouette motifs on frosted glass is found in both Austrian and Bohemian crafts of the period.

Attribution:
Probably Austrian or North Bohemian, in the circle of the Vienna Secession or the Wiener Werkstätte.

Dating:
Approx. 1915–1930.

Material:
Frosted glass with black silhouette cut decor and gilding.

Art-historical classification:
The present object blends the ornamental elegance of late Art Nouveau with the clear geometrization of the Vienna Modernism. The silhouette-like figure compositions reflect the Secession artists’ enthusiasm for classical models, surface decoration, and graphic reduction.

Condition:
Wear consistent with age, gilding partially rubbed.

Collector's note:
A rare decorative work of the Vienna Moderne with strong aesthetic impact and pronounced reference to Secession art. Comparable glasses are attributed to the Wiener Werkstätte milieu, Austrian arts-and-crafts schools, as well as Bohemian refining workshops.