Ferdinand Preiss (1882-1943) – Art Deco bronze figure of a dancer

Johann Philipp Ferdinand Preiss (1882-1943) – An Art Deco period bronze figure of a dancer by this famous German Sculptor. The model is shown with arms outstretched and her right knee held aloft, in a dancing motion. She wears classic 1920’s dancing attire, together with headdress. She stands on one foot and is mounted upon a stepped circular red marble plinth. Signed “Johann Philipp” to the base together with the bronze foundry stamp – guarantee of quality.

Dated: c.1910-20.

Height:  56 cm.

About the artist:  Johann Philipp Ferdinand Preiss (1882-1943). Preiss was one of the leading sculptors of the Art Deco period. His parents died when he was 15 and he spent some of his earlier years travelling to Paris and Rome before becoming an apprentice to Philipp Willmann, an Ivory carver. He became a friend and acquaintance of Arthur Kassler in Baden-Baden, which led to the founding of the company Preiss and Kassler operating from Berlin. Kassler became the business-minded partner and Preiss controlled the artistic production. Preiss designed nearly all of the firms models and many of his most famous works depict modern, naturalistic 20th century women from the sports and theatrical world. Preiss died from a brain tumor in 1943. The firm closed shortly afterwards as, on top of Preiss’s death, the workshop was gutted by fire resulting from a bomb attack in the 2nd world war.