Sculpture

MEISSEN BOTTGER-STONEWARE HEAD OF A BALINESE WOMAN
Circa 1926-34
Height 11 3/4 inches (30 cm.)

Modelled by Wili Münch-Khe, wearing a jewelled headband and earrings, her head slightly raised, the details finely polished, moulded signature 'W. MCH-KHE' to one side of base; incised crossed swords and dot and model number A. 1133, impressed 'BOTTGER/ STEINZEUG' and former's number 131, incised paste composition number S(?)330x

Willi Münch-Khe (1885-1961) was a student of Hans Thoma and made some models in Karlsruhe majolica, before being appointed as a painter at the Meissen manufactory for a short time in 1912-13. After the First World War he designed models for Karlsruhe majolica, Rosenthal, Villeroy and Boch as well as Meissen. The bust of the Balinese woman was modelled during the winter of 1925-26 and was initially executed in Böttger stoneware and white porcelain, though the former was judged to be more successful and, by early 1928, it was produced only in stoneware. See Caren Marusch-Krohn, Meissener Porzellan 1918-1933: Die Pfeifferzeit, no.110, for the example in the Schauhalle of the Meissen manufactory.