Style Other / Ref.15091

Art foundry of Johann HERZNER (attributed to), Lantern with rich rococo decoration, Second half of the 19th century

This ornate rococo-style lantern was crafted by the art foundry of Johann Herzner in the last quarter of the 19^th century.

The Johann Herzner art foundry, located at 37 Erzgießereistrasse in Munich, specialized in both original works and scaled reproductions. Active from approximately 1870 to 1877, the foundry made a significant impression with its display at the 1870 London International Workers’ Exhibition, where it presented a rococo-inspired couple (“Roccocopaar”) that highlighted Herzner’s early passion for the style. The pieces, noted for their exceptional clarity and detail despite a lack of chiseling, earned the foundry a second-class medal. Following this, the works were also showcased at Munich’s City Hall. Herzner further garnered acclaim at the 1873 Vienna World’s Fair, where he won a merit medal in both metal industry and decorative arts categories, praised for his well-modeled and finely crafted bronze groups. His last known exhibition was at the 1876 Munich Art and Craft Exhibition, where he received a second-class medal in the new arts industry category.

This remarkable gilded bronze and glass lantern rests on a quadrilobed wooden base adorned with intricate decoration. Set within a naturalistic rocky and vegetative scene, various putti frolic in varied poses: a winged girl sits on a rock, while two young boys play amid the foliage.

From this base, the stand spirals upward, featuring fluted leaves with sinuous curves surrounded by leafy embellishments. Toward the top, more putti appear: one, comfortably nestled within a curve, seems to hold seaweed in each hand; above him, a miniature Jupiter with lightning bolt and crown rests on an eagle with his left arm; another winged girl with roses gazes into the lantern, while an airy putto is suspended below, as if supporting the object. These four putti may symbolize the four elements (water, fire, earth, and air).

The base of the lantern also displays rococo styling, crafted as a scalloped shell with uneven edges, from which palm-like fronds arc and frame the glass surface. The top of the lantern utilizes a play of solid and open spaces, which becomes especially striking when the lantern is lit. Each of the six glass panels is tinted blue and depicts a night sky dotted with stars, showing the moon in its various phases, which can be followed by turning the lantern.

The exceptional craftsmanship and opulence of this piece showcase the artistry of the Bavarian foundry responsible for its creation, a workshop worthy of greater recognition.