This striking large majolica centerpiece or fruit stand was crafted by Wilhelm Schiller & Son, one of the most important Bohemian majolica manufacturers of the 19th century, active in Obergrund (now Děčín, Czech Republic) between 1829 and 1914. WS&S became renowned for their bold designs, monumental scale, and masterful use of colored glazes, rivaling the finest European majolica makers of the period.

The centerpiece (model no. 4961) exemplifies the historicist and neo-Renaissance spirit of Schiller’s work. It is richly sculptural, resting on a dramatic base modeled as a griffin (grifone) emerging from swirling, baroque-inspired scrolls and waves. The griffin, a mythological creature symbolizing strength and vigilance, is rendered with exceptional detail: outstretched wings, powerful talons, and an open beak mid-roar, all enlivened by a deep brown and ochre majolica glaze.

The stem rises into a fluted support that culminates in a large shell-form bowl, its rim curling into leaf-like ridges. At one end, the bowl transforms into a finely modeled grotesque mask—a bearded face with exaggerated features, perhaps evoking Renaissance fountain mascarons, glazed in earthy browns with touches of cobalt on the head. This dramatic contrast of naturalistic and fantastical motifs is a hallmark of Wilhelm Schiller & Son’s bold aesthetic.

• Maker: Wilhelm Schiller & Son (WS&S)

• Origin: Obergrund, Bohemia (Austria-Hungary, today Czech Republic)

• Date: Circa 1885–1900

• Material: Glazed majolica earthenware

• Marks: Impressed WS&S cartouche and model number 4961

Pieces of this scale and complexity were luxury objects in their time, designed as showpieces for fashionable interiors. Today, they stand as superb examples of 19th-century majolica artistry, embodying the eclectic taste and technical virtuosity for which Wilhelm Schiller & Son are celebrated.