Ernst Wahliss
(Austrian, 1837–1900)
Biography
Ernst Wahliss was an Austrian ceramicist who created ornate porcelain and earthenware vessels for European elites. Also known for his small-scale sculptures, the artist often depicted Baroque-era women dressed in opulent clothing. For example, in his piece Damenbüste (1837–1900) the artist sculpted a women dressed in an extravagant headpiece and a silken gown. Born on March 1, 1837 in Oschatz in the Kingdom of Saxony, Wahliss began his pottery career as the traveling salesman for a porcelain factory at age 30. He later left to found his own ceramics company, and soon began exporting porcelain goods across Europe. To meet the high demand for his pottery and sculptures, the artist opened his own department store, Wahliss, in Vienna’s city center. Near the end of his career, he abandoned his design work to move to the rural town of Velden, where he opened a luxury hotel. Wahliss died on July 18, 1900 in Vienna, Austria. His works can be found in the collections of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney, the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, and the Museum of New Zealand in Wellington, among others.
Ernst Wahliss Artworks
Ernst Wahliss
(197 results)
Ernst Wahliss
A figural shell form center bowl, 1900–1925
Sale Date: September 27, 2009
Auction Closed