114 - Ivory statue depicting a woman or fortune-teller

Ivory statue depicting a woman or fortune-teller Beautifully carved, allowing one to see the details of the figure’s face, particularly the glasses The costume is inlaid with red and blue semi-precious stones cut in the antique style The presence of a black cat (inlaid with pink ruby-like stones), a deck of cards (enameled with a moon-and-stars motif), and a card pouch indicates that this is a fortune-teller associated with the world of divination Finally, the base is made of chiseled and enameled metal featuring motifs of fruit, flowers, and interlacing patterns on a square lapis lazuli base with stone inlays No other model of this type or associated with the world of magic is known to have been produced by this manufacturer Austrian work from Vienna—circa 1890 H. 24 cm Weight: 595 g (a detail is missing from the right hand) Object containing ivory; CIC obtained on 10/16/2026. For any shipment outside the EU, a re-export document will be required and is the responsibility of the buyer Note: Beginning in the 18th century, southern Germany, northern Austria, and eastern Switzerland saw the development of a distinctive form of ivory craftsmanship: the creation of figurines. Most of these creations are exceptionally delicate and depict traditional or folkloric figures. The craft enjoyed immense success throughout Europe and supplied the cabinets of curiosities, display cases, and tables of wealthy families. Over time, artisans sought to distinguish themselves from one another. Often, the base or the style of carving served as a distinguishing feature among sculptors. Beginning in the 1870s, figures inlaid with gemstones began to appear, reflecting the styles of Renaissance or Indian ivory carvings. This innovation was the work of a currently unknown artist who produced various figures of merchants and market characters in Vienna between 1870 and 1890. Currently, there are about twenty such figures, depicting wine merchants, clockmakers, mayors, musicians, market vendors, night watchmen, and others. A distinctive feature of this work is the inlay of semi-precious stones into the ivory, giving the sculpture a look reminiscent of the character Pierrot, who was very fashionable in the late 19th century. There are three models of winegrowers by the same artist, one of which is housed at the Medeiros Museum in Lisbon.