(Waldheim 1877–1947 Berlin)

Ariadne. Circa 1918.

Terracotta cast.

Monogrammed lower right on the base: GK.

H 30 cm.

We would like to thank Dr. Ursel Berger for her kind assistance and for confirming the authenticity of the work, March 2023.

Provenance:
Swiss private collection.

It is likely that the commemorative figure Ariadne relates to Marguerite (actually Margarethe) von Kühlmann, who passed away in 1917. Her husband, Richard von Kühlmann, was a diplomat and had been the German ambassador in Istanbul since 1916. When Georg Kolbe was drafted for military service in early 1917, Kühlmann managed to have the artist transferred to Istanbul. In addition to Kühlmann's portrait, Kolbe also modelled two portraits of his wife during this time. The statuette of Ariadne was created shortly after her death. Upon Kolbe's return to Germany, the small sculpture was produced in an edition in terracotta by the Arnold Gallery in Dresden (unknown edition size and manufactory). (Translated from: Georg Kolbe Museum archive).