Beschreibung:

A German Silver-Plated Nautilus Cup, designed by Franz von Stuck executed by WMF, Geislingen, Late 19th Century
mounted on an ebonized wood base, marked on rim of quiver WMF and numbered 30
overall height 20 1/4 in.51.5 cmCondition reportThe wood base with some minor scuffs. The sculpture in good condition.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The online condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance purposes only. The images of the lot also form part of the online condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Any reference to condition in the online condition report does not amount to a full description of condition. The online condition report may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the online condition report of the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The online condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the online condition report is a statement of subjective, qualified opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's (for example, information regarding colour, clarity and weight of gemstones are statements of opinion only and not statements of fact by Sotheby's). Please also note that we do not guarantee, and are not responsible for, any certificate from a gemological laboratory that may accompany the lot. In addition, certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot (for example, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades). For these reasons, the online condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. Prospective buyers should also refer to the relevant section the Buying at Auction guide which includes important notices concerning the type of property in this sale. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.Catalogue noteVon Ostini records that the Nautilus was one of the first sculptural works created by Stuck, pre-dating the Glaspalast exhibition in Munich in 1892 (when he displayed the famous Athlet) and finding its origins in two illustrations that Stuck designed in the 1880s: firstly a drawing for the Allegorien und Embleme portfolio published by Gerlach & Schenk, Vienna 1882/84, vol. 2, no. 82; and secondly for a calendar illustration for the month of October published in the Fliegende Blatter, 1889, no. 2306.
Stuck himself owned a bronze version of the present model which mounted a real nautilus shell and appears as a prop in some of his paintings. It stood on his living-room cabinet until 1909 (see Bierbaum, op. cit., p. 79). Versions in silver-plate were executed by WMF, Geislingen.