Otto Prutscher Art Nouveau Brass Box Bowl With Lid, Melzer & Neuhardt, 1920s

A rare and elegant oval Art Nouveau „Jugendstil“ brass lidded box or bowl from the 1920s, designed by Otto Prutscher (Vienna, 1880–1949) and crafted by Melzer & Neuhardt in Vienna. This piece exemplifies exceptional craftsmanship, evident for example in the finely hand-hammered brass and the delicate, charming feet. Carefully hand-polished, the box is in good condition. An outstanding example of early 20th-century Viennese artistry.

Otto Prutscher (1880–1949) was a prominent Austrian architect, designer, and craftsman who played a vital role in the Vienna Secession and the Wiener Werkstätte. A student of Josef Hoffmann and Koloman Moser at the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts, he was deeply influenced by their approach to integrating art and design. Prutscher collaborated with notable contemporaries such as Adolf Loos, Gustav Klimt, and Josef Frank, contributing to a wide range of projects spanning architecture, furniture, textiles, and ceramics.

Prutscher’s designs reflected the ethos of the Wiener Werkstätte, emphasizing craftsmanship, functionality, and elegance. His work bridged traditional techniques with modernist innovation, creating timeless designs that were both practical and artistic. Active across different artistic movements, Prutscher became a key figure in shaping Vienna’s modernist aesthetic in the early 20th century.