Description

Austrian Art Deco (for Rena Rosenthal | possibly, by Hagenauer) Madonna and Child Carved Ebonized Wood & Silvered Metal ca. 1920’s MATERIALS Ebonized wood and silvered metal. MARKINGS Stamped with “Made in Austria” and "RENA" marks. DIMENSIONS Height: 6.25 inches Width: 4.25 inches Depth: 2.5 inches ABOUT SCULPTURE Quite extraordinary in its design, craftsmanship and selection of materials, this outstanding Art Deco tabletop sculpture of the Madonna and Child was most likely made in the Vienna studio of Karl Hagenauer for the New York Rena Rosenthal Gallery, who sold modern home accessories made in Germany and Austria. She was the main retailer for Hagenauer’s creations in America from 1920’s to the late 1950’s. RENA ROSENTHAL (1880–1966) was a trend-setting American retailer and businesswoman. Known principally for her exclusive Madison Avenue retail shop in New York City, she was an influential arbiter of taste and fashion in the interior decorating world, particularly during the introduction of modernism to North America. Born Rena Kahn in New York City, Rena Rosenthal was the oldest child of Jacob (Jacques) and Eugenie Kahn and sister of architect Ely Jacques Kahn. Rena Rosenthal was a promoter of applied arts in the modernist style whose patronage helped launch the careers of such noted designers as Donald Deskey, Tommi Parzinger, Ernst Schwadron and Russel Wright. She established the Austrian Workshop, later Rena Rosenthal Studio and then Rena Rosenthal Gallery. She retailed exclusive handcrafted glass, porcelain, fabric, metal and wood objects for home adornment through her shop at 520 (later 438) Madison Avenue. Many of these items were sourced in her father's and husband's native Austria; her shop distributed wares from the Wiener Werkstatte and from the Viennese designer Karl Hagenauer. She introduced the work of Austrian enamel artist Mizi Otten to North America, and was an early promoter of English potter and painter T. S. Haile. She loaned German pottery and Austrian metalwork items to the Worchester Art Museum’s third annual exhibit of modern decorative arts, in 1929. While she is known now principally for her exclusive retail shop (regular advertisements were seen in House & Garden and Harpers magazines), her business was listed over the years in New York directories under "Painters & Decorators" and "Gift Shops", and in Chicago under "Art Goods." Rena Rosenthal was an influential arbiter of taste and fashion in the interior decorating world, particularly during the introduction of modernism to North America. She handled art works that ended up in collections of notable individuals like Geoffrey Beene and institutions such as the Cooper-Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. AUTHENTICITY We guarantee the authenticity of all items to be as represented. Ashville Fine Arts Gallery specializes in a variety of fine art, antiques, jewelry, collectibles and rare finds. If you have not seen something that interests you or that you collect, please visit often and check our ever-expanding inventory. We make a best effort to provide a fair and descriptive condition report. Please examine the photos attentively, as they are an integral part of item descriptions. SHIPPING We Sell & Ship Worldwide Domestic & International Customers are Welcome! We reserve the right to use another shipping carrier or method other than what is listed, to ensure your purchase is delivered securely. Please contact us if you require a specific shipping carrier. In the event if the dimensions and weight of the purchased item exceed those allowed by USPS, the shipping charges estimates, specified in the general item description should be considered incorrect. A valid shipping-cost estimate shall be arranged with the Buyer in accordance with a destination, type of shipping selected, insurance etc. International Buyers, please check your country Customs regulations, as we are not responsible for any customs fee or duty after international shipping is posted! Import duties and taxes are the Buyer's responsibility and are not included in the price you have paid for an item. Hand delivery is complimentary to New York City Buyers. INSURANCE All items are carefully packed and insured. Please do not attempt to return an item due to shipping damage. Should it occur in spite of our careful packaging, this must be handled through the shipping agent with an insurance claimed with the insurance company. Always be sure to retain all original packaging if a claim is to be made, as the shipping agent may request to examine it. INQUIRIES Please send us a message. If you have any questions regarding shipping; need additional information about any of our listings or discuss price - please, feel free to contact us and we will be glad to assist you further with any inquiries. CONTACT US Send us a message to request more details or discuss price.