Exquisite Art Nouveau bronze-colored table easel with irises — circa 1900 (5236)

Dimensions:
SET:
Height: 48 cm
Width: 29 cm

Exquisite Art Nouveau bronze-colored table easel with gorgeous iris motifs — y, circa 1900 (5236)

This medium-sized, visually gorgeous and plastically perfect table easel (antique art nouveau brass tabletop easel) is a top-class example of decorative applied art from the turn of the century. The item is masterfully cast from a durable metal alloy and treated with a noble, saturated, and shimmering bronze-colored hue. The composition of the easel is entirely subject to the aesthetics of the golden age of Jugendstil (Art Nouveau), where every line and structural element strives to imitate the life and flowing asymmetry given by nature.

The upper, wide decorative panel of the easel is crowned with an intricate, sculpturally crafted openwork lattice. Its central axis and edges are adorned with marsh iris (iris) flowers cast in high relief, unopened buds, and symmetrical daisy or sunflower inflorescences, which transition into winding, organic natural contours and stylized linear decorations. The lower part of the frame is adorned with equally delicate, winding acanthus leaves and shoots, which seamlessly transition to the front supporting legs with elegantly rolled Art Nouveau motifs at the base. Special attention is also paid to the supporting horizontal shelf for artworks — its surface is entirely cast using the openwork technique with rhythmic ornaments of arcs, leaves, and curls, creating a visually light but technically extremely secure support. The easel rests on a three-point system, where the rear, massive leg is equipped with an original hinge mechanism and an exquisite, wide, and decorative volute base, which guarantees complete stability on any surface.

DIMENSIONS AND SCOPE:

• Total height: 48 cm

• Width: 29 cm

• Depth (when unfolded): 29.5 cm

• Construction: Medium-sized, stable metal body with a fully decorative openwork front frame, integrated ornamental shelf, and foldable rear support.

MANUFACTURING PERIOD, ART STYLE, ERA Made approximately between 1895–1905, in y (in the leading Munich or Berlin art casting centers). The item represents the pure and academic period of Jugendstil. During this time, natural elements, especially irises and water lilies, were considered symbols of spiritual rebirth and the new era. An easel of this size and decorative substance was not an ordinary everyday item, but rather an exquisite interior centerpiece that adorned the libraries, music salons, or ladies’ boudoirs of wealthy homeowners, serving as a luxurious frame for expensive miniature portraits, watercolors, or early high-society photographs in ornate frames.

Snapshot of the era: Munich Secession master Franz von Stuck slowly sat down in the studio of his luxurious villa and watched the rays of the setting sun break through the heavy window panes… illuminating the bright red roses in a crystal vase on the table. His gaze lingered on the new table easel, shimmering in bronze color, whose openwork lattice patterns cast delicate, almost sacred shadows on the wall in the twilight. The finely cast iris flowers and winding natural motifs seemed like frozen poetry in metal, which flawlessly held a small, gilded frame. Von Stuck smiled — this small art object contained the spirit of the new century: unbreakable craftsmanship quality intertwined with wild and untamed natural elegance, ready to transform any corner of the room into a true aesthetic pleasure for the knowledgeable and reading viewer.

MANUFACTURER AND ORIGIN The flawless precision of the metal casting technique, the purity of the openwork elements, and the complex, decorative base of the rear leg unequivocally attest to the work of specialized art foundries (Kunstgießerei) and masters who supplied elite European salons with top-quality decorative items at the turn of the century.

RARITY AND SIGNIFICANCE While small and completely simple table stands are relatively common on the antique market, such a medium-sized (48 cm) Art Nouveau easel with such a dense, sculptural, and openwork floral ornament composition is a rare find. What makes this specimen particularly valuable is the fully preserved, untouched original openwork shelf and rear hinge, which were most often subjected to deformation and mechanical damage in daily use. It is an authentic specimen of the style with high art-historical and collection substance.

APPLICATION IN INTERIOR AND DESIGN The easel will serve as an exquisite and presentable visual centerpiece on a desk, mantelpiece, console, or in a glass display cabinet. It is an excellent and luxurious tool for displaying small paintings, antique icons, historical mirrors, or prestigious photographs. Thanks to the high light reflections and deep patina grooves of the metal surface, the item creates an excellent play of shadows, making it an ideal object for high-level interior design and art photography sessions.

CONDITION The easel is in excellent antique condition. The metal alloy construction is completely rigid, monolithic, and stands stably on the surface. The movable rear leg and hinge mechanism with the original locking screw function flawlessly and firmly. All delicate openwork elements, irises, daisies, and leaf scrolls on the front and shelf are original and completely intact, without breaks or signs of restoration. The bronze-colored hue remains uniform and shimmering, with a beautiful, natural patina formed over time in the deep relief grooves. The condition of use is fully reflected in the photographs.