Hans STOLTENBERG-LERCHE - known as Hippolyte SAINT LERCHE (1867-1920) - Silver-plated bronze vase of ovoid form with long straight neck depicting motifs in relief of bats hovering over a nocturnal cityscape on a night of full moon - Signed, located Paris and dated 1892 - Art Nouveau period - H : 20 cm - Note: "A Norwegian Art Nouveau craftsman and sculptor of remarkable technical skill, Hans Stoltenberg Lerche trained as a ceramist in Germany from 1884 to 1886. Initially employed as a painter and illustrator for German magazines, he later turned to craft and sculpture. He studied first sculpture and then painting in Naples from 1886 to 1890. He learned from Eugène Carrière in Paris from 1891 to 1900. He created numerous sculptures for the cities of Vienna and Paris, as well as numerous models for the Goldscheider factory. The fanciful decorative motifs that he transposed into majolica, glass, enamel and jewellery were largely inspired by the marine flora and fauna that had fascinated him during his studies at the Aquarium of Naples. He moved to Rome in 1900 where he became very popular as a portraitist. He won the gold medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900 and the gold medal at the International Exhibition of Ceramics and Glass in 1901. These creations were distinguished by their Art Nouveau style, but also symbolic as evidenced by this vase with - bats."