SKU: 9510150491

WALTER BOSSE ‘GOLD BLACK LINE’ ELEPHANT FIGURINE (AUSTRIA)

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WALTER BOSSE ‘GOLD BLACK LINE’ ELEPHANT FIGURINE (AUSTRIA)A classic vintage trumpeting elephant by Walter Bosse for Herta Baller from the 1950s "Black Gold Line" of brass figures WALTER BOSSE was born November 13, 1904, in Vienna, to the artists Luise and Julius Bosse. His father worked as a portrait painter at the imperial court. Walter Bosse attended the Wiener Kunstgewerbeschule, now the University of Applied Arts Vienna, from 1918 to 1921, where he studied ceramics under Michael Powolny, and ornament

A classic vintage trumpeting elephant by Walter Bosse for Herta Baller from the 1950s "Black Gold Line" of brass figures

WALTER BOSSE was born November 13, 1904, in Vienna, to the artists Luise and Julius Bosse. His father worked as a portrait painter at the imperial court.

Walter Bosse attended the Wiener Kunstgewerbeschule, now the University of Applied Arts Vienna, from 1918 to 1921, where he studied ceramics under Michael Powolny, and ornament under Franz Cižek.  He then attended the Munich School of Applied Arts (Münchner Kunstgewerbeschule).  During his schooling he was given the opportunity to sell his work at the Wiener Werkstätte by Josef Hoffmann, who became a mentor to Bosse. Bosse opened his own shop in Kufstein in 1923.

Bosse's work grew in popularity and a number of his pieces were shown at the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts in 1925. He started designing for Augarten Porcelain Works (1924), as well as Goldscheider (1926) and Metzler and Ortloff (1927). In 1931, to meet increasing demand (especially in America), Bosse opened up a bigger shop in Kufstein, but by 1933 he started to feel the effects of the economic depression. By 1937, the Kufstein works were closed.

In 1938, now divorced, Bosse moved back to Vienna, where he founded Bosse Ceramics (Bosse-Keramik), which expanded under the new name “Terra” to include glass, toys, textiles. and a variety of craft items for the gift market. In the late 1940s, Bosse began experimenting with brass by giving his ceramic figures a metal coating to protect them from breakage.

He formed a partnership with Herta Baller, whose company (the Herta Baller Company) manufactured and marketed the brass figurines, this collaboration was called the Bosse/Baller company.  In the early 1950s, Bosse and Baller began exploring a new style of brass called the “Black Gold Line” or "Black Golden Line" of brass figurines.  He transitioned all of his efforts to brass and the figures became popular worldwide.  Despite Bosse's success with his brass figures, it was still a difficult time for him financially. In 1953, partly fleeing from financial troubles, he moved to Iserlohn, Germany where he set up a new shop and continued production. In Vienna, the Herta Baller Company continued to make and sell Bosse's designs.  Bosse also collaborated with Karlsruhe State Majolika Works on a number of pottery animal figures.

In 1958, he designed for Achait Schirmer in Cologne.  Bosse also turned his efforts to small, everyday items such as letter openers, keyrings, corkscrews, and pencil holders, all of which bear the distinctive "black and gold" look.

A number of Bosse's designs began to gain widespread popularity internationally, particularly his brass hedgehog ashtrays and hand-shaped bowls. But the designs' success led to forgeries popping up worldwide. His hedgehog ashtrays were reproduced by many forgers in various countries and with varying degrees of precision.  To protect his designs, he engaged in court battles which would last the rest of his life and deplete most of his money.  Because of these cases, he is considered to be a seminal figure relating to modern copyright law for designer goods.

The last years of Bosse's life saw him devoting much of his time and money to his legal disputes and on December 17, 1979, Bosse died with no money to his name in Iserlohn, Germany. His oeuvre consists of about 8,000 models and designs, of which about 3,000 are ceramic

Designer Walter Bosse
Manufacturer Herta Baller
Design Period 1950 to 1959
Production Period Unknown
Country of Manufacture Austria
Identifying Marks This piece has been attributed based on archival documentation, such as vintage catalogs, designer records, or other literature sources
Style Vintage, Mid-Century, Minimalist
Detailed Condition Excellent — This vintage piece is in near original condition. It may show minimal traces of use and/or have slight restorations.
Product Code
Materials Brass
Color Black, gold
Width 2.3 inch
Depth 1.0 inch
Height 1.8 inch
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SKU: 9510150491

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Shannon Berg
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Flattering fit
Color: White, Size: Large
Flattering fit and comfortable. Material is a bit see through but that doesn't bother me. Great value for a nice looking shirt.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2026
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Psych NP
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 4
Super Soft and Comfortable, Just Not the Most Forgiving Fit
Color: Purple, Size: X-Large
This top is incredibly soft and comfortable, which was the first thing I noticed. It has a really nice, lightweight feel that is easy to wear and not too thick or heavy, making it great for everyday use. Fit is true to size, but I would not call it very forgiving through the midsection. It is not cropped, but it also does not have much added length, so it hits in a way that can highlight the stomach area more than expected. Just something to be aware of depending on how you like your tops to fit. I know the material blend can pricey but still not sure I would say it's value is worth it. I like it, but I odn't love it. The purple color is better in person than the picture though! Overall, it is a great basic if you are looking for something soft and comfortable, just know it leans a bit more fitted than flowy.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2026
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VJR
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
Non petroleum. Great shirt
Color: Grey, Size: Large
Fits well. Very soft and comfortable. Made well. I wish it was a bit longer but I did order more in different colors.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2026
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kellyjo287
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Love the material, very comfortable
I got the black in a size small, and the fit turned out perfect. It’s relaxed enough to actually move in comfortably, and looks really nice for a plain athletic shirt. The fabric is super soft right out of the package, and the tagless construction and flat seams mean there’s nothing scratchy or irritating even after wearing it for hours. The breathability and moisture wicking actually live up to its claims. It stays lightweight and cool in a way that cheaper workout tops just don’t, and the bamboo blend does seem to hold up surprisingly well on the odor resistance side of things too. The fabric is nice and stretchy while managing to not lose its shape as the day goes on, and so far the black has stayed vibrant through washing. My only slight hesitation is the price. While not bad by any means, $20 for a single athletic t-shirt is a little more than I’d typically spend. Having worn it a few times though, I think the quality ended up justifying it. Overall, if you’re looking for a workout top that actually delivers on its claims and holds up over time better than the cheaper versions, this one is worth the investment.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2026
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Amazon Customer
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
Great top for a heatwave
Color: Grey, Size: Large
We are in the midst of a heatwave in SoCal (95 degrees on St Patrick's Day, sheesh), and this tee really proved its claims today! I ordered it in gray, in anticipation of needing to deflect light, I just didn't think I'd need it this soon. At any rate, I love the coolmax plus bamboo plus vicose blend. I've learned to check the fabric of almost offering these days as somehow detestable synthetics (I won't say the P word, but it rhymes with Esther) because they trap heat, and the whole reason I'm buying summer clothing is to try to keep my body temperature on the cool side! At any rate, this lovely blend did help keep me cool and dry, and the curved hem is really flattering. You might not think that such a small detail would make much difference, but I find myself reaching for this for that reason alone! I ordered a Large, but likely shouldve gone with a Medium. It's a bit baggy but allows a lot of movement, so it's fine. I'm often between sizes and toss a coin pretty evenly split on which size I eventually settle on, so it literally is a real toss up. In the hope of helping someone else, I'm 5'5, about 145 lbs, 29 inch waist, and I wear a 34F/34DDD. I read another review that said that the shirt was too short, but I didn't find that to be true with mine. It fell to a flattering position, as in the photo, but maybe different colors have different sizing, as I've run into sometimes with major chains, and it's annoying. So take it with a grain of salt. I've already washed it and it doesn't shrink, nor did I expect it to.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2026

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