Antique Art Nouveau W Hering Ettlinger Freres Pewter Figural Ewer Paris c1910 For Sale

Striking early 20th-century French Art Nouveau figural ewer by Ettlinger Frères of Paris, signed “W. Hering” and attributed in specialist decorative-arts literature to American sculptor Elsie Ward Hering.

This dramatic cast pewter vessel features a semi-nude female figure modeled in high relief against the tall body, her raised arms reaching into sculpted foliage and berries. The organic branch-form handle, elongated asymmetrical pouring lip, botanical detailing, and flowing sculptural lines are quintessential Art Nouveau.

The underside carries the documented Ettlinger Frères factory mark: a crown above a floral/rosette emblem with “E.F. FRES” beneath. The front of the base is incised “W. Hering.”

This exact model is documented in European sale records. A photo-identical example offered by Setdart/Drouot in January 2026 measured 21.5 cm high and weighed approximately 800 grams; this example measures approximately 8.5 inches high and weighs 832 grams, closely matching the documented casting. Another identical example was catalogued by Kiefer in Germany in 2018 with the same W. Hering signature and crown/rosette Ettlinger Frères mark.

The model has also been cited to Philippe Dahhan’s specialist reference Étains 1900: 200 Sculpteurs de la Belle Époque, reportedly p. 188, fig. 539. W. Hering works produced by Ettlinger Frères are traditionally attributed in the European decorative-arts market to Elsie Ward Hering (1871–1923). Because the surviving primary-document connection between Hering and the Paris commercial pewter line is limited, the attribution is presented here accurately as an attribution rather than an absolute documented commission.

Specifics:

• Maker: Ettlinger Frères, Paris

• Signature: W. Hering

• Attribution: Elsie Ward Hering

• Origin: France

• Period: Art Nouveau / Belle Époque

• Date: circa 1900–1914, likely around the 1910 period

• Material: Cast art pewter / étain, possibly originally silvered

• Height: approximately 8.5 inches / 21.6 cm

• Weight: 832 grams

• Form: Figural ewer / pichet / decorative pitcher

• Decoration: Semi-nude female figure, foliage, berries and organic branch-form handle

• Base mark: Crown and floral rosette above E.F. FRES, documented Ettlinger Frères mark

• Published/model reference: Dahhan, Étains 1900, cited in sale literature as p. 188, fig. 539

Condition:

Very good antique condition with an untouched aged surface. Shows expected surface wear, rubbing, scratches, oxidation and patina consistent with age and use. The high points have naturally softened and darkened over time. Handle is intact, rim and pouring lip remain structurally sound, and the signature and underside factory mark remain clearly visible. Interior shows age-related darkening. No aggressive polishing has been performed, and the original patinated surface has intentionally been preserved. Please examine all photographs closely as they form an important part of the condition description.

A wonderfully sculptural piece in its own right, but the documented Ettlinger Frères mark, W. Hering signature, matching dimensions and nearly matching published weight make this considerably more interesting than the average unsigned Art Nouveau pewter ewer.

Keywords: Art Nouveau pewter, W Hering, Elsie Ward Hering, Ettlinger Freres, Ettlinger Frères Paris, French pewter, etain, antique ewer, figural pitcher, nude woman, Belle Epoque, Jugendstil, circa 1910, French decorative arts, antique metalware, sculptural vase