WALTER MADER (BRIENZ, 19TH CENTURY)
A FINE AND RARE SWISS BLACK FOREST CARVED WALNUT GROUP OF A HOUND AND PUPS
CIRCA 1870
Naturalistically carved as a recumbent hound with four pups clambering across her back, each rendered with individualized expression and finely articulated detail, the surface is richly worked to simulate the texture and flow of the coat, and the composition rests on a shaped base.
This exceptional group exemplifies the highest achievements of the Brienz school in the third quarter of the nineteenth century, where master carvers such as Walter Mader elevated traditional Alpine carving into fully realized sculptural art. The present work displays the hallmarks of this golden period: deeply undercut carving, sensitive modeling, and a sophisticated compositional unity that animates the group with both vitality and tenderness.
As noted in Swiss Carvings: The Art of the Black Forest, such animal groups formed a central part of the repertoire exhibited at the great international exhibitions of the nineteenth century, where Swiss carvers from the Bernese Oberland achieved widespread acclaim. These exhibitions—particularly those in London, Paris, and later the United States—were instrumental in transforming regional craftsmanship into an internationally celebrated art form, eagerly collected by British and American patrons.
Within this context, Mader's works are especially prized. His dog groups, in particular, are regarded among the most accomplished expressions of Black Forest carving, combining technical virtuosity with a refined naturalism that captures both the physical presence and emotional character of the subject.
The present example stands as a superb and rare survival from this celebrated tradition, notable for its scale, condition, and remarkable carving quality.
WALTER MADER (BRIENZ, 19TH CENTURY)
A FINE AND RARE SWISS BLACK FOREST CARVED WALNUT GROUP OF A HOUND AND PUPS
CIRCA 1870
Naturalistically carved as a recumbent hound with four pups clambering across her back, each rendered with individualized expression and finely articulated detail, the surface is richly worked to simulate the texture and flow of the coat, and the composition rests on a shaped base.
This exceptional group exemplifies the highest achievements of the Brienz school in the third quarter of the nineteenth century, where master carvers such as Walter Mader elevated traditional Alpine carving into fully realized sculptural art. The present work displays the hallmarks of this golden period: deeply undercut carving, sensitive modeling, and a sophisticated compositional unity that animates the group with both vitality and tenderness.
As noted in Swiss Carvings: The Art of the Black Forest, such animal groups formed a central part of the repertoire exhibited at the great international exhibitions of the nineteenth century, where Swiss carvers from the Bernese Oberland achieved widespread acclaim. These exhibitions—particularly those in London, Paris, and later the United States—were instrumental in transforming regional craftsmanship into an internationally celebrated art form, eagerly collected by British and American patrons.
Within this context, Mader's works are especially prized. His dog groups, in particular, are regarded among the most accomplished expressions of Black Forest carving, combining technical virtuosity with a refined naturalism that captures both the physical presence and emotional character of the subject.
The present example stands as a superb and rare survival from this celebrated tradition, notable for its scale, condition, and remarkable carving quality.
Image 1 of 4
Image 2 of 4
Image 3 of 4
Image 4 of 4