Ludwig Walther - A exquisite Art Deco ivory figure,"Repose", Berlin circa 1925 , depicting a young woman, her hands clasping her foot, mounted on an onyx and black pyramid shaped base.
This is an exceptionally well carved figure in lovely condition.
Ludwig Walther (1890-c1972) Born in Erbach, Germany.
A superb ivory carver, he was working for the firm of Carl Haebler in Baden-Baden when he met Ferdinand Preiss, who joined the firm around 1905.
In 1910 Preiss (who had set up his own firm in Berlin in partnership with Arthur Kassler) brought Ludwig Walther (along with another carver Louis Küchler) from the Carl Haebler firm to Berlin to expand his PK firm.
Walther remained there for several years until he left in 1925 to set up on his own in Berlin, advertising that he executed figures and jewellery in the combination of bronze and ivory. He was joined by Louis Küchler in 1929 and together they started the firm of Walther & Küchler. Walther carved some exquisitely detailed small ivory nudes, including some models he had first executed for the PK firm.
In the nineteen-fifties Walther retired back to Erbach.
Literature. Art Deco Sculpture - Victor Arwas | Art Deco and Other Figures - Bryan Catley