Powolny Michael, 1871–1954, Wiener Keramik

Jar with sparrow

imprinted corporate brand, Austria, Michael Powolny for fu Vereinigte Wiener und Gmündner Keramik, design circa 1907, glazed, colored tinted glaze, fading gilding of decorative coral band of the bowl, a square bowl with a convex lid decorated with embossed decoration with a flower motif and finished with a handle in shape of a sparrow with a meadow bell, height 13 cm, minimal damage glaze Lit.: E. Frottier, Michael Powolny, p. 63 (variant).
Michael Powolny was an Austrian sculptor and ceramist. He began working with in his father's pottery workshop, then continued his apprenticeship in the company Sommerhuber. After graduating from the technical school for ceramics in Znojmo he continued his studies at the School of Arts and Crafts in Vienna from 1894 to 1906 under the guidance of A. Strasser and F. Metzner. After graduation, he founded with B. Löffler the "Wiener Keramik". The works produced were sold by the association Wiener Werkstätte, which made Powolny's work famous. In 1913, the Wiener Keramik merged with Gmunder Keramik. From 1909 to 1936 M. Powolny taught at the School of Arts and Crafts in Vienna. In addition, he also worked with J. Hoffmann on the equipment for the Fledermaus cabaret and on the buildings such as the Haus Skywa in Vienna and the Stoclet Palace. Powolny's designs were also executed by important firms such as Klinkosch, Lobmeyr, Augarten and others. Powolny was a member of the Wiener Secession between 1936 and 1939 and after when it was re-established in 1946. He was a key pillar in the workshops of Wiener Werkstätte. His works were represented, for example, in the Paris World Fair in 1900 and at the Vienna Art Nouveau exhibitions. Awards: in 1900 Erster Preis im Bewerb für Plastik beim Weihnachtswettbewerb der Kunstgewerbeschule, in 1925 Diplom d'Honneur Paris, in 1933 Staatspreismedaille, in 1935 Grand Prix Brüssel, in 1936 Alfred Roller- Preis, in 1951 Ehrenmedaille der Stadt Wien.