A beautifully modeled Art Nouveau terracotta majolica vase attributed to Joseph Strnact of Vienna. The piece features a rich cobalt blue glaze over molded terracotta, with elegantly pierced twin handles and a sinuous, organic silhouette characteristic of the Art Nouveau movement. The front panel bears an oval medallion scene of two figures in a natural setting, delicately transfer-printed and hand-tinted in soft pastels.
Though unmarked, the vase is identifiable as Strnact’s work through its distinctive combination of materials, glazing, and decorative vocabulary, notably the deep cobalt glaze, applied figural reserve, and sculptural openwork form. These hallmarks are consistent with authenticated examples from his Viennese workshop, active during the height of the Art Nouveau period.
A refined example of Austrian Art Nouveau majolica, blending technical sophistication with the lyrical elegance typical of turn of the century Vienna.
