Johann Maresch, "the Break" Sculpture, African American In Terracotta, Ca 1890

"The break" sculpture of an Afro-American at rest, in Austrian terracotta by Johann Maresch. N° 6489, ca 1890. Subject representing a black boy / man sitting on a rock, bamboo in the background, cigar in hand. Two soliflore vases are provided in the bamboo... In perfect condition. In the manner of Haniroff for the Viennese terracotta sculpture factory Goldsheider... Bibliography: Orientalist and Africanist terracottas 1860-1940, Stéphane Richemond, 1999, page 101. Manufactured in Bohemia (known dates: 1841 - 1948). Johann Maresch was born in 1821, he joined Adolf Baehr around 1841. The Baehr and Maresch Siderolith Fabrik was located at the corner of the streets Teplitzerstraße and Johannesstraße, in Aussig an der Elbe. Reinhold Hanke worked there as an apprentice patternmaker between 1853 and 1858. They originally marked their wares with B&M, but around 1863 they switched to the famous JM markings. They used a mixture of "ironstone" clay: a more durable type of porcelain, having more strength and weight than fine china. Their production was large and their products were shipped all over the world. In 1890, his son Ferdinand took over the family business and for nine years kept the name of the factory. He eventually changed it to Ferdinand Maresch. Siderolith, Majolika and Terracotta Fabrik. He did not, however, change JM's hallmarks. In the early 1900s the company flourished under his leadership, exporting to the rest of Europe and America. The factory was run by Ferdinand until his death on August 2, 1940. The factory continued to produce its ceramic wares, but times were tough for Europe. The factory stopped production in 1944 and finally closed in 1948.