Continental F.Gerbing terracotta vessel -after the Antique- bronzed finish, c.1845

$120.00 AUD

German /Czech terracotta vessel with bronzed finish, moulded with a continual low-relief frieze, after the Antique, depicting cherubs with dolphins & nets, finished in a deep brown ‘bronze’ slip.
Stamped to base ‘F.G. 44’ for Ferdinand Gerbing,

datable to circa 1845.

15.5cm high, 14cm wide

Ferdinand Gerbing (1798-1848) was a German potter in Bodenbach, Germany, now the Czech Republic. He embraced the Neo-Classical taste, and also the Egyptomania of the early 19th century, producing fine quality moulded terracotta, highly fired and well finished. In 1848 he died, leaving the business operations to his partner Wilhelm Schiller and his wife Karoline. Their mark was F.G.W., for ‘Ferdinand Gerbing Witwe (‘Widow’) – but in 1850 Schiller left to set up his own highly successful factory making almost identical wares.
This piece was made in Ferdinand’s lifetime, pre-1848. There are instances of impressed numbers being a date code, for example Vienna used 2, then 3 letters to show dates in the late 18th- early 19th century. This piece may follow this method, and date to 1844.

In stock