Life size Black Forest Carved Wood Dog Setter by Royal Carver Stephan Zechmeister

A life size Black Forest carved lindenwood wood setter in a ‘pointing’ stance with a long plumed tail, his collar inscribed ‘Nägler aus Gera’ and the base ‘St. Zechmeister. Berchtesgaden, 1883’ German.

This carved masterpiece was created by Stephan Zechmeister, one of the finest carvers and sculptors in Germany of his generation. Born in 1848 he was appointed sculptor to the Bavarian court by Luitpold Karl Joseph Wilhelm Ludwig, the Prince Regent of Bavaria and in effect ruler of the Bavarian province from 1886-1912. He was also appointed as one of the court sculptors to the Duchy of Anhalt. Aside from his royal commissions, Zechmeister is recorded as supplying carved furniture for various church interiors, particularly in his native Berchtesgaden, and was involved in the construction of the very first power plant in the town, built in 1889. His work as a sculptor in bronze is also recorded, a bust of the town’s mayor, Michael Kirchmayr, byt the artist and dated 1884 survives in a museum collection.

Zechmeister’s workshop is known to have supplied such items as carved life-size stag’s head trophies and other hunting-related items, such as the present piece, as well as smaller items such as smoker’s companions.

Nägler aus Gera

 The inscription on the dog’s collar, ‘Nägler aus Gera’, almost certainly relates to the merchant family who, in 1857, purchased the manor of Caaschwitz. Rittergut Caaschwitz, as described in Bau- und Kunstdenkmäler Thüringens, 1896, was originally developed as a fortified manor estate in the late 13^th century for the van Caaschwitz family and passed through the hands of various families before being acquired by Nägler.

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