Sophie von der Goltz
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Lot 109
Statuette d'une loutre en grès Böttger, vers 1934-48
A Meissen Böttger stoneware model of an otter, circa 1934-48
A Meissen Böttger stoneware model of an otter, circa 1934-48
29 October 2025, 14:00 CET
Paris, Avenue Hoche€1,500 - €2,000
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Statuette d'une loutre en grès Böttger, vers 1934-48
A Meissen Böttger stoneware model of an otter, circa 1934-48
A Meissen Böttger stoneware model of an otter, circa 1934-48
Modelled by Max Esser, seated on its hind legs on a rockwork base, incised M. ESSER to rear of base, 25.5cm high, impressed crossed swords mark and two incised cancellation marks, impressed 'BOTTGER/ STEINZEUG', model number A.1221. and numeral 150.
Footnotes
Professor Max Esser (1885-1945) started his career early on with an apprenticeship with a sculptor, and during the evening hours took course at the Museum for Applied Art in Berlin. He then studied at the Berlin School of Fine Arts (Berliner Hochschule für bildende Künste) and studied and worked with Professor August Gaul between 1904-1915. He was also a close friend of Paul Scheurich. From 1909 Esser delivered several models to the Schwarzburger Werkstätten , where he also became an employee between 1915-1918. From 1918 Esser was designing for the Meissen manufactory, and moved to Meissen, where he lived until 1926, and became Professor. Esser won the Grand Prix at the International Exhibition in Paris in 1937 for the model of the present lot, the Meissen otter (see following lots). He also sporadically created works for the Berlin manufactory from 1914, and his models were used at Hutschenreuther and Selb. The Selb manufactory created two of Esser's models in silver in his memory.
For a full discussion of Esser's time at Meissen and two further examples of Esser's otter, see Caren Marusch-Krohn, Meissener Porzellan 1918-1933, Die Pfeifferzeit, 1993, pp. 105-112.
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