Walter Bosse Fish Bottle Opener

A brass bottle opener in the form of a fish. The useful object dates from the 1950’s and was designed by Walter Bosse for Herta Baller, Austria.

This bottle opener is one of Bosse’s most overtly playful designs; the fish has been stylised into a joyful caricature. The form is not only highly indicative of the animal, but also performs well, practically; a notable design skill observed in most of Bosse’s useful objects. 

The fish features a golden-polished body, of which the surface has been hand-decorated with spots. The face is left patinated black, and the open mouth has been modelled in a way to allow the fish to open bottles. 

Walter Bosse is best known for his whimsical ‘black-golden’ line of patinated brass animals. Early examples, like this, are revered for both their quality of design and manufacture.