Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
An exquisite Austrian Art Deco ceramic boudoir lamp featuring a dramatic, sweeping dancer in a vibrant cobalt blue floral dress, modeled after the famous 'Captive Bird' design by Josef Lorenzl. The hand-painted earthenware figure is mounted on a heavy cast-brass base with an integrated arched lamp arm, epitomizing the theatrical glamour of the interwar period.
Story
In 1920s Vienna, dancer Niddy Impekoven shocked and delighted audiences with her avant-garde 'Captive Bird' dance. Sculptor Josef Lorenzl captured her gravity-defying pose in clay, creating an icon of freedom that swept across Europe.
Maker / Origin
Founded in Vienna in 1885 by Friedrich Goldscheider, the company became a global powerhouse of fine ceramic art, renowned for its high-quality earthenware and bronze figures. During the Art Deco era, Goldscheider collaborated with elite sculptors like Josef Lorenzl and Stefan Dakon to produce some of the most sought-after, dynamic representations of the modern 'New Woman'.
Condition & Value
The ceramic figure has suffered a major break across the blue drapery, which has been crudely repaired with a dark green adhesive or overpaint visible on both the front and back. The brass base shows a pleasing aged patina, and the wiring appears to be an older, potentially unsafe replacement that should be rewired before use.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.