WALTER BOSSE was a Viennese sculptor and ceramicist. A prolific artist with a playful Modernist sensibility, he continually experimented to produce an eclectic body of work that included metalwork, pottery, and household objects. His best-known series consists of small-scale bronze animal figurines coated in a dark ceramic glaze. This unique surface led to the series being titled Black Golden, as the polished contours of Bosse’s figures would gleam against the matte surface of black ceramic. Born on November 13, 1904 in Vienna, Austria, he went on to study at the School of Applied Arts in Munich and Vienna. Bosse later apprenticed under many different sculptors and designers, including Josef Hossmann and Michael Powolny. After time spent working at the Goldscheider ceramic manufacturing company, he returned to Vienna to open a workshop and storefront in Bosse-Keramik, where, despite his output of approximately 8,000 designs, Bosse struggled to find financial success and was plagued by legal disputes to defend the copyright of his designs. He ultimately died penniless on December 17, 1979 in Iserlohn, Germany, and his designs continue to be sought-after by collectors around the world.

(Photo Credit: Adeeni Design Galerie; Source: Artnet)