Lion and Lioness

Max Esser, a student of August Gaul was, like his teacher, one of the most important animal sculptors and porcelain modellers of the early 20th century. His lion and lioness, always regarded as king and queen, go beyond all naturalistic representation. With great pride, one figurine points powerfully to the beauty of the other, attracting the gaze of the beholder and then directing it toward its counterpart. The regal posture of the couple in expression, dominance, and elegance is expressed with a poise that only the mixture of an idealising gaze and dreamy exoticism of Art Deco could master. The noble pair was created in 1927/28.