Presentation Porcelain Statue – “Das Licht” – Josef Thorak

This is a very rare piece of porcelain complete with its presentation box.

The full size original of this was exhibited at the Great German Art Exhibition in Munich in 1944, the last year of the exhibition which ran from 1937 to 1944. The wonderful marble carving by favoured Third Reich artist Josef Thorak stood in Hall 22 at the Haus der Kunst, Munich.

Thorak’s reputation was established in 1922 when he created Der sterbende Krieger (The Dying Warrior), a statue memorializing the dead of WW1.

In 1933, Thorak joined Arno Breker as one of the two “official sculptors” of the Third Reich. In his massive studio in Munich, Thorak worked on statues intended to represent the folk-life of Germany under Hitlers leadership; these works tended to be heroic in scale, up to 20 metres in height. His official works from this period included a number of sculptures at the Berlin Olympic Stadium of 1936. Two of his well known works were the massive Striding Horses that stood at the entrance to the new Reich Chancellery in Berlin. The original “Das Licht” was on display at the very first Photokina Trade Fair in 1950 in Cologne Germany. Photokina the largest trade fair in Europe for the photographic and imaging industries still exists today but the venue has changed to Deutz.

These boxed statues were presented in 1950 to selected customers only, it is not known how many were presented but it is sure that only in 1950 these presentations took place. It is doubtful due to the cost of these that many were actually produced.

The figure is a semi-biscuit finish and completely undamaged. It stands at 350mm in height. On the bottom is maker marked Rosenthal, with the number 5113 (model number) and the issue number 4, all presentation pieces having their own unique number. Also marked is “PROFTHORAK” and the words in italic “Das Licht”.

The blue leatherette box measures 400mm x 150mm x 100, is in excellent condition with only very minor scuffing to the lid. The hinges and catch are perfect and even comes with the original key for locking. The Agfa logo is fastened to the outside of the lid. Internal the box is red velvet lined with padding – excellent condition.

Not Third Reich era but closely linked by the artist. A very rare piece of porcelain indeed and complete with box and key.

Superb piece of history!