Carpe Diem, Large Jugenstil Sculpture and Clock

Extremely rare and beautifully sculpted and executed, this monumental terracotta clock depicting a nude Adam and Eve exchanging the fateful apple, is finished in a green-black glaze approximating the dark bronze patina preferred by Germans at the turn of the 20th century. The sculptor, probably R. Schmotz-Metzner, captured the form and musculature of his nude figures masterfully, and there is a tenderness and quietness in the engagement between Adam and Eve. The piece is entitled "Carpe Diem" or "seize the day," and the front face of the sculpture also features a low-relief panel of roses, reflecting a major theme of the Arts and Crafts movement. The sculpture was made by Schön & Co. Kunstwerkstätte in Dresden, and its most ambitious pieces are reminiscent of the work of Goldscheider in Vienna. We are not aware of any other example of this piece, and given its size, it may have been commissioned by a wealthy family, circa 1900. This piece retains its original windup key.