A German bronze figure of a swordsman, on square plinth and marble base, signed and with foundry mark, H : 23ins. Professor Hugo Lederer (November 16, 1871, Znaim (Znojmo) - August 1, 1940, Berlin) was a Moravian-born German sculptor. Lederer studied in Dresden under sculptor John Schilling from 1890, then briefly under Christian Behrens. His greatest success came in 1902 with the commission for a Bismarck tower in the center of Hamburg. In 1919 Lederer went to the Academy of Arts in Berlin; among his students was Josef Thorak. Lederer's last major work was for the Krupp organization. Lederer is buried in Wilmersdorfer Waldfriedhof in Stahnsdorf near Berlin. The Gladenbeck Berlin Foundry is where the finest German bronzes were cast in the 19th and early 20th century. Only the finest quality pieces were cast at this foundry. It was Germanys answer to the Barbedienne foundry where many of the finest French bronzes were cast. Any time you see Barbedienne or Gladenbeck on the side of an antique bronze you know you have an important high quality sculpture. Footnote: The Gladenbeck foundry was founded by Carl Gustav Hermann Gladenbeck in 1851 and was run by various family members and shareholders until the early years of the 20th century. In 1857 the company relocated to Berlin, and in 1888 became Aktien-Gesellschaft H. Gladenbeck und Sohn; directed by Hermann Gladenbeck and sons Oskar and Alfred. Related Literature: Harold Berman; Encyclopedia of Bronzes, Sculptors & Founders, vol 4, 1800-1930, Abage Chicago, 1980.

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Antique Statues