Robert Prenzel Kookaburra Chest
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A Robert Prenzel chest, Robert Prenzel (1866-1941). C.1910. The relief carved panel to the front depicting a kookaburra on a leaf baring eucalyptus branch. The hinged lid with original brass fixings. stamped to underside of box 'Robt Prenzel/Toorak Road, South Yarra/European Labour Only.' height 48 cm, width 76 cm, depth 50 cm, Prenzel was the most important member of a group of professional and amateur carvers who worked in a distinctly Australian idiom in the first quarter of this century. Prenzel is best remembered today for his furniture and carvings featuring Australian motifs, often in the Art Nouveau style and in Australian timbers. His most ambitious and sought after works date from the early years of the 20th century, as evidenced in this remarkable piece.
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- Art Nouveau Period - The Art Nouveau period was a cultural movement that emerged in the late 19th century, and was characterized by its emphasis on natural forms, flowing lines, and a decorative, ornamental style. Art Nouveau was a reaction against the ornate and heavily stylized designs of the previous era, and sought to create a new, more organic aesthetic.
Art Nouveau was characterized by its use of sinuous, curving lines, as well as a focus on natural elements such as flowers, vines, and other organic shapes. Art Nouveau designers sought to create a total work of art, in which every element of a building or object was designed to be harmonious with the overall design.
Some of the most iconic examples of Art Nouveau design include the Paris Metro entrances designed by Hector Guimard, the works of the artist Alphonse Mucha, and the architecture of Victor Horta in Brussels.
The Art Nouveau period was at its peak between 1890 and 1910, but began to decline in popularity by the start of World War I. However, Art Nouveau remains an important influence on design and art to this day, and continues to be celebrated for its emphasis on natural forms and decorative style. - Signed or Stamped - A signed piece of furniture may mean that the maker has signed (and hopefully dated) the piece in the same way that we sign a cheque, but more likely, that it bears evidence of the name of the maker, wholesaler or retailer as a paper label, metal plaque, impressed into the timber or in later pieces after about 1880, stamped onto the timber with an ink stamp.
The 'signature' or stamp will always be in an unobtrusive position: under the top of a table, on the underside of the rails of a chair, inside a drawer or on the back.
The fact that a piece is 'signed' considerably enhances its value. Signed Australian furniture is extremely rare, and for imported furniture, it is a mark of quality of the item, as only the items by the top makers or retailers were 'signed'
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