Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Austrian, 1904-1979
Credited with thousands of works and models for ceramic pieces, Walter Bosse was an intensely prolific designer. The modernist Austrian sculptor and ceramist was best known for his distinctive “Black Golden” series of decorative objects and figurines, particularly his hedgehog ashtrays. Bosse’s mid-century and Art Deco works were popular as gifts for politicians and royalty worldwide, remaining coveted among collectors today.
Bosse was born in Vienna in 1904 to artist parents — his father, Julius, was a portrait painter for the Austrian Imperial Court. Bosse studied at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna from 1918 to 1921 under Austrian sculptor Michael Powolny and Austrian painter Franz Cizek. Later, he continued at the Munich School of Applied Arts in Germany under Austrian architect and designer Josef Hoffmann, a founder of the Vienna Secession movement.
Early in his career, Bosse worked as a designer at several ceramics manufacturers, including Augarten Porcelain Works in 1924, Goldscheider Porcelain Manufactory and Majolica Factory in 1926 and Metzler and Ortloff in 1927. In 1925, Bosse displayed several pieces at the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts in Paris, which introduced the Art Deco style to a global audience.
In 1931, Bosse opened a shop in Kufstein, Austria, selling ceramic gift items. Owing to the crippling economic effects of the Great Depression, however, Bosse was forced to close his shop in 1937. He returned to Vienna in 1938 and opened another business, Bosse Keramik, where he sold toys, glass, textiles and more. In the late 1940s, Bosse experimented with small-scale brass sculptures and desk accessories coated in black ceramic glaze. With Austrian designer Herta Baller, Bosse formed the Bosse-Baller company to manufacture the “Black Golden” line of figurines, which became wildly popular worldwide.
Despite Bosse’s success, he struggled financially and moved to Iserlohn, Germany, in 1953. Meanwhile, Baller continued to manufacture and sell Bosse’s designs, which were so popular that forgers copied and sold counterfeit editions of Bosse’s works around the world. The 1950s marked the debut of the artist’s whimsically zoomorphic hedgehog ashtrays — these were cast in brass, and a hedgehog ashtray in any other material is not a Bosse original.
Bosse spent the rest of his life embroiled in court battles to protect his designs, leaving him penniless by the time he died. Today authentic Bosse pieces — from wall-mounted sculptures to tableware — continue to be highly sought after by collectors.
Find vintage Walter Bosse serveware, wall decorations and more on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Walter Bosse
Zodiac Sign Twins Figurine by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s ( signed )
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Zodiac Sign Twins Figurine by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s ( signed )
Original condition
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
VTG Walter Bosse Cast Brass / Bronze Figural Giraffe Figurine Mid Century Modern
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
Cute mid century modern black patinated brass or bronze giraffe miniature figurine, designed by Walter Bosse for Herta Baller in the 1950s/60s.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Small Libra Zodiac Sign by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Small Libra Zodiac Sign by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
Original condition
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Small Libra Zodiac Sign by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Small Libra Zodiac sign by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
Original condition.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Walter Bosse Mermaid and Fish Wall Sculpture by Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A lovely Mid-Century wall-mounted brass sculpture, displaying a mermaid and a fish on a frame, made of black-finished brass. Designed by Walter Bosse, manufactured in the 1950s by He...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Walter Bosse Woman in Biedermeier Dress Brass Wall Sculpture, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A lovely midcentury mural, displaying a woman in a Biedermeier dress with umbrella in front of the Gloriette in Vienna, all made of brass. A beautif...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Beautiful Teddy Bear in Black Golden Line from the Famous Designer Walter Bosse
By Walter Bosse
Located in Argenteuil, IDF
Beautiful and charming little teddy bear in black golden line from the famous designer designer
Walter Bosse (1904 - 1979)
Beautiful original patina from the mid-20th century.
H...
Category
1940s Austrian Vienna Secession Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
$190 Sale Price
20% Off
Walter Bosse Austrian Art Deco Art Pottery Cupid Figure
By Walter Bosse
Located in Bishop
s Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare and delightful Art Deco Austrian art pottery figure of a cupid by renowned Viennese artist, designer, ceramist, potter and metalworker Walter Bosse (Austrian, 1904-1979) and b...
Category
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Zodiac Sign "Sagittarius" by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Zodiac sign "Sagittarius" by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
Original condition.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Small Walter Bosse Sagittarius Zodiac Brass Figurine, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Small Walter Bosse Sagittarius Zodiac Brass Figurine, Austria, 1950s
Original condition
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Walter Bosse Thermometer, circa 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse Thermometer, circa 1950s
Original condition
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Walter Bosse Dwarf Brass Cork Screw Bottle Opener, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming midcentury bottle opener/cork screw, displaying a dwarf. A humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by Hertha Baller Austria in the 1950s. Made of black-finished brass, i...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Walter Bosse Dwarf Brass Cork Screw Bottle Opener, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming Mid-Century bottle opener/cork screw, displaying a dwarf. A humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by Hertha Baller Austria in the 1950s. Made of black-finished brass, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Walter Bosse Paragraph Lawyer Brass Sculpture, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A Midcentury brass figurine, displaying a paragraph form the 1950s. Designed by Walter Bosse, executed by Hertha Baller, Austria. In very g...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Napkin or Letter Holder by Walter Bosse
By Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Napkin or letter holder by Walter Bosse
Original condition.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
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Miniature Owl Figurine by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
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Classic mid-century 1950s Vienna bronze figurine by Walter Bosse.
This gorgeous small miniature creature with big personality designed by Walter Bosse, an expert craftsman from the golden age of Vienna bronzes is a real beauty. He designed his “black/gold” series of bronze figurines to make “as many people as possible happy.”
Excellent example of a Walter Bosse brass figurine...
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1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
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Walter Bosse Brass Poodle Figurine, Lucky Charm, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
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A charming poodle figurine, made of brass designed by Walter Bosse, executed in the 1950s by Hertha Baller, Austria. In excellent condition.
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Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
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Walter Bosse Brass Cat Figurine Pretzel Holder, Ring Holder
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Austrian brass cat figurine, usually made to be used as a pretzel holder, a decorative piece, very suitable as a ring holder.
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1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
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Walter Bosse Brass Key Hanger Donkey, Dog, Cat and Cock, Hertha Baller, Austria
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse Brass Key Hanger Donkey, Dog, Cat and Cock, Hertha Baller, Austria
Original condition
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
$689
H 9.85 in W 7.49 in D 1.19 in
Walter Bosse key rack dachshund
Located in Wien, AT
Dachshund key holder
Viennese dog figure made of brass key rack by Walter Bosse for Baller Austria, 1950s
Category
1950s Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
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Miniature Cat Figurine by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
By Walter Bosse
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic mid-century 1950s Vienna bronze figurine by Walter Bosse. Found at an estate sale in Vienna, Austria.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
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Walter Bosse Hedgehog Stackable Brass Ashtrays, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Vienna, AT
A complete set of six vintage stackable midcentury hedgehog ashtrays. A humorous and charming design by Walter Bosse, executed in the 1950s by Hertha Baller, Austria. Made of solid b...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
$1,090
H 3 in W 5 in D 3 in
Walter Bosse Brass Cat Figurine Jewelry Ring Holder, Baller Austria, 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1950s Austrian Bosse cat Figurine Collectible. Nice addition to your room or just for your collection of Austrian bronze items. Found at an estate sale in Vienna, Austr...
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
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$360
H 7.5 in W 3.25 in D 1.13 in
3 Walter Bosse Brass Wall Hooks of a Lion Austria, 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
3 Walter Bosse brass wall hooks of a Lion Austria, 1950s
Original condition.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Hedgehog by Walter Bosse for Hertha Baller around 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Hedgehog by Walter Bosse for Hertha Baller around 1950s
Original condition
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Flower Wall Vase Guitar Brass Bronze Mid-Century Modern Wall Decoration, 1950s
By Herta Baller
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1950s Austrian baller style wall mount vase. Nice addition to your room or just for your collection of Austrian bronze items. Found at an estate sale in Vienna, Austria.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
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$220
H 10 in W 4.38 in D 1.38 in
Walter bosse for herta Baller cat figurine vienna around 1950s
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Walter bosse for herta Baller cat figurine vienna around 1950s
Original condition
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Previously Available Items
Ceramic Vide-Poche, Grotesque At A Bowl, Walter Bosse, Austria 1924-1936
By Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A playful combination of the functional and the decorative:
Female figure in a floor-length, loose dress with a headscarf, a simple face with pierced eyes set wide apart – a long nos...
Category
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
H 5.12 in W 6.3 in D 4.53 in
Dancing Women Sculpture in Brass by Walter Bosse, 1950
s
By Walter Bosse
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Dancing Women Sculpture in Brass by Walter Bosse, 1950's
Additional Information:
Material: Brass
Style: Mid century, Europe
Produced by Hertha Baller in...
Category
20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Figural Dog Coat Hook Walter Bosse Cast Brass / Bronze Mid Century Modern
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
Iconic mid century modern black patinated brass or bronze figural dog coat hook, designed by Walter Bosse for Herta Baller in the 1950s/60s.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass, Bronze
H 5.71 in W 2.96 in D 3.94 in
Figural Cow / Bull Coat Hook Walter Bosse Cast Brass / Bronze Mid Century Modern
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
Iconic mid century modern black patinated brass or bronze figural cow or bull coat hook, designed by Walter Bosse for Herta Baller in the 1950s/60s.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass, Bronze
H 7.09 in W 3.55 in D 3.55 in
Walter Bosse Hand Sculpture Figurative Ashtray Pin Dish Vide Poche c. 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
A beautiful modernist vide poche or ashtray in the shape of a hand designed by Walter Bosse and probably executed by Herta Baller Austria in the 1950s.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass, Bronze
H 1.5 in W 5.12 in D 3.94 in
Walter Bosse, for Herta Baller, "Black Gold Line" Porcupine in Bronze, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Walter Bosse
Located in San Diego, CA
Whimsical and unique solid brass catch it all jewelry ring holder, circa 1950's practical and unique.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Pair of Walter Bosse for Herta Baller Bronze Hand in Bronze, 1950s
By Walter Bosse
Located in San Diego, CA
Whimsical and unique solid brass catch it all jewelry ring holder, circa 1950's practical and unique.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Art Déco Figure, Grotesque
Man With Antelope
Walter Bosse for Augarten, Vienna
By Augarten Porzellanmanufaktur, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A man in a long dress wrapped like a spiral spring and a pointed hat hugs the animal with an excessively long neck standing next to him, with the horns and hat wedged together.
Pain...
Category
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
H 7.49 in W 2.76 in D 2.76 in
Small Libra Zodiac Sign by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Small Libra zodiac sign by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
Original condition.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Zodiac Sign "Sagittarius" by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Zodiac Sign "Sagittarius" by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
Original condition.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Walter Bosse Cactus, circa 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse cactus, circa 1950s
Original condition.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Zodiac Sign Twins Figurine by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Zodiac sign twins figurine by Walter Bosse, circa 1950s
Original condition.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Bosse Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Walter Bosse figurative sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.
Walter Bosse figurative sculptures are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Walter Bosse figurative sculptures, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original figurative sculptures by Walter Bosse were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider figurative sculptures by Herta Baller, Richard Rohac, and Leopold Anzengruber. Prices for Walter Bosse figurative sculptures can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $200 and can go as high as $820, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $246.
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