Goldscheider – Art Deco Wall Mask By Rudolf Knörlein, Circa 1932

An elegant, feminine wall mask in polychrome ceramic, created by Rudolf Knörlein (1902–1988) for the renowned Friedrich Goldscheider factory in Vienna, circa 1932.

The face, rendered in a distinctly Art Deco style, features clean, highly graphic lines: elongated eyes, a mouth accented with a vivid orange-red, and hair composed of stylized curls glazed in black. The broadly drawn shoulder, accented with the same orange hue, lends this small composition a particularly decorative silhouette.

The reverse reveals the characteristic red clay and bears the model number 6623, as well as its original label “ENTWURF RUDOLF KNÖRLEIN,” confirming the designer’s name. The hanging mechanism is integrated into the piece.

Rudolf Knörlein was one of Goldscheider’s leading designers in the early 1930s and played a key role in the development of its famous female wall masks. He worked for the Viennese manufacturer beginning in 1932 and held positions in artistic direction there. (Goldscheider Keramik⁠)

This piece is a quintessential example of this Viennese production from the 1930s, now sought after for its distinctive Art Deco aesthetic.