Poseidon Emerging from the Sea

This double inkstand is a work of high-quality sculpture, cast in bronze, centered around a powerful male figure emerging from a tumultuous sea. The figure is clean-shaven and appears youthful. He is captured in a powerful, twisting motion, with the waves of the sea below. The inkwells are integrated into the design, held within two large conch shells that sit on the waves on either side of the figure.

While the figure is not a traditional bearded Poseidon, the presence of the conch shells and the wave-like base still point to a sea deity or a mythological figure from the marine world. It is possible that the artist took creative license with the classical representation of Poseidon, choosing a more youthful and dynamic interpretation for this particular piece. The use of the conch shells and the theme of a figure rising from the waves makes Poseidon (or the Roman Neptune) the most likely subject.

Hans Müller (1873-1937) was a prominent Austrian sculptor known for his elegant and finely detailed bronze figures. He worked in a style that was influenced by Art Nouveau and the fin-de-siècle Viennese Secession movement. His work is often characterized by its meticulous detail, graceful lines, and a focus on mythological, allegorical, and patriotic themes. He is well regarded for his small-scale bronze sculptures and functional decorative objects, such as inkstands and paperweights. This piece is unsigned, but the attention to the intricate details of the figure’s musculature and the realism of the conch shells and waves is consistent with his artistic hand.