Walter Bosse Fish Tray

A brass tray, or pipe rest, in the form of a fish. This item dates from the 1950’s and was designed by Walter Bosse for the Herta Baller workshop, Vienna, Austria. 

Walter Bosse is well-known for his playful ‘black-golden’ line of patinated brass animal figures, many of which double as useful items for the home. This distinctive fish sculpture is useful as a tray, vide-poche, or pipe rest. 

The object personifies mid-20th Century simplicity in its form, yet manages to convey a great deal of character. The unusual fish, with its pointed ‘nose’ and pronounced eyes, has a raised tail on which to rest the stem of a pipe. The body has been hollowed to create a versatile tray, which is lightly hammered to give a slight textured finish.

The sculptural object has been black-patinated in a typical Viennese fashion. Certain areas have been polished back to brass, to offer a visual contrast whilst highlighting the decorative nature of Bosse’s design.