# Johann Philipp Ferdinand Preiss artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/johann-philipp-ferdinand-preiss/
Profile generated: 2026-05-02T20:28:45.989Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Birth date: 1882-02-13
- Nationality: German
- Movements: Art Deco
- Common media: ivory, bronze, etching

## About Johann Philipp Ferdinand Preiss

Johann Philipp Ferdinand Preiss (1882–1943) was a German sculptor and ivory carver recognized as one of the leading artists of the Art Deco era. Born in Erbach in the Rheingau-Taunus region, Preiss trained at the Unterrichtsanstalt des Kunstgewerbemuseums in Berlin before co-founding the firm Preiss & Kassler, which produced finely carved ivory-and-bronze figurines that defined the chryselephantine aesthetic of the 1920s and 1930s. His works, typically marked with the PK monogram, depict elegant female figures, dancers, and athletes rendered in carved ivory combined with cast bronze and stone bases. Preiss died in Berlin in 1943. His sculptures remain among the most collected and widely referenced Art Deco objects in the international auction market.

## Common works and media

The most commonly encountered Preiss works are small-to-medium chryselephantine figurines combining carved ivory torsos and limbs with patinated bronze drapery or bases, often mounted on green onyx or marble plinths. Typical subjects include female dancers, tennis players, gymnasts, and allegorical figures. The firm Preiss & Kassler also produced purely bronze editions and cold-painted variants. Etchings by Preiss are recorded in RKD but are far less common in the auction market than the sculptural figures.

## Market and appraisal context

Ferdinand Preiss is one of the most actively traded Art Deco sculptors in the international auction market. Appraisily auction records index 647 lots attributed to the artist, of which 425 carry realized prices spanning from 1998 to April 2026. The price distribution is wide: a minimum of $55, a 25th percentile of $1,300, a median of $3,000, a 75th percentile of $10,000, and a maximum of $80,500. This dispersion reflects the significant range between later reproductions or small bronze-only pieces at the low end and fully attributed chryselephantine figures with original ivory and bronze at the high end. Market liquidity is strong and increasing — 56 lots appeared in the most recent 12-month window compared with 27 in the prior 12 months, suggesting sustained collector demand. The artist's works appear most frequently at Quittenbaum Kunstauktionen (Munich), which specializes in Art Deco and Jugendstil, followed by major international houses including Bonhams, Sotheby's, and Christie's. Mid-tier houses such as Roseberys, Gorringes, Aalders, and Historia Auctionata also regularly offer Preiss lots, indicating broad geographic distribution across Europe, the UK, and the US. The most valuable recorded recent lot is a Bonhams 'Joueur de mandoline' chryselephantine figure that realized €8,000 in November 2024, while the earlier Bonhams 'Powder Puff' cold-painted ivory figure achieved £18,000 in August 2020.

## Auction-house-backed market evidence

Ferdinand Preiss is one of the most actively traded Art Deco sculptors in the international auction market. Appraisily auction records index 647 lots attributed to the artist, of which 425 carry realized prices spanning from 1998 to April 2026. The price distribution is wide: a minimum of $55, a 25th percentile of $1,300, a median of $3,000, a 75th percentile of $10,000, and a maximum of $80,500. This dispersion reflects the significant range between later reproductions or small bronze-only pieces at the low end and fully attributed chryselephantine figures with original ivory and bronze at the high end. Market liquidity is strong and increasing — 56 lots appeared in the most recent 12-month window compared with 27 in the prior 12 months, suggesting sustained collector demand. The artist's works appear most frequently at Quittenbaum Kunstauktionen (Munich), which specializes in Art Deco and Jugendstil, followed by major international houses including Bonhams, Sotheby's, and Christie's. Mid-tier houses such as Roseberys, Gorringes, Aalders, and Historia Auctionata also regularly offer Preiss lots, indicating broad geographic distribution across Europe, the UK, and the US. The most valuable recorded recent lot is a Bonhams 'Joueur de mandoline' chryselephantine figure that realized €8,000 in November 2024, while the earlier Bonhams 'Powder Puff' cold-painted ivory figure achieved £18,000 in August 2020.

### Appraisal notes

An Appraisily appraisal for a Ferdinand Preiss sculpture would combine these auction records with detailed photographs (front, side, back, base, and signature close-ups), measured dimensions, material identification (ivory vs. resin substitute, bronze alloy, stone base type), signature or monogram verification (PK mark, foundry stamps, model numbers), condition assessment of ivory elements (cracks, discoloration, repairs, replaced parts), provenance documentation, and edition or model identification. Comparable lots would be selected by matching model title, material combination (chryselephantine vs. bronze-only), scale, and condition grade. The wide price range in the record set means that misattributing a later reproduction as an original PK-monogram piece would materially overstate value; conversely, an authenticated, well-documented chryselephantine figure in excellent condition with traceable provenance would warrant placement at or above the 75th percentile.

### Valuation factors

- PK monogram presence and legibility — works bearing the Preiss & Kassler firm mark command a significant premium over unsigned or unattributed pieces
- Material composition — chryselephantine (ivory and bronze) figures are the most valued category; bronze-only or cold-painted variants trade lower
- Ivory condition — age-related cracks, discoloration, shrinkage, or restoration substantially reduce value; pristine ivory is a major differentiator
- Model identification and rarity — named models such as 'Powder Puff', 'Torch Dancer', 'Con Brio', and 'Cabaret Girl' appear repeatedly; rare or large-scale models command premiums
- Base material and originality — original green onyx or marble plinths add value; replaced or missing bases detract
- Provenance and exhibition history — documented ownership chain and publication in reference works strengthen attribution and price
- Scale — larger figures generally achieve higher prices than busts or small tabletop editions
- Foundry marks and model numbers — matching a known Preiss & Kassler catalogue number supports authentication

### Collector notes

- Preiss chryselephantine figures trade regularly at auction with a typical range of roughly €500–€10,000 for authenticated pieces, with exceptional examples reaching £18,000 or more. The market shows healthy liquidity with over 50 lots offered in the past year. Quittenbaum Kunstauktionen in Munich is the single most active house for this artist and a good reference point for current pricing. Buyers should be cautious of listings described as 'after' or 'in the manner of' Ferdinand Preiss — these indicate reproductions and trade at a fraction of original-work prices (as low as €55–€130 in the recorded data). Bronze-only figures without ivory elements typically realize in the €350–€1,500 range. The strongest prices are achieved at Bonhams, Sotheby's, and Christie's for fully documented chryselephantine pieces with good provenance. When acquiring, verify the PK monogram, inspect ivory for cracks or repairs, and confirm the base is original. Sellers should ensure high-quality photographs of the signature, ivory surfaces, and base, and provide any provenance documentation to maximize realized price.

### Market caveats

- Some lots in the record set lack realized prices (listed as unsold or estimates only), which means the effective price floor and ceiling may differ from the priced-lot distribution
- Listings marked 'nach' (after) or 'in the manner of' are attributed copies or reproductions, not original works by Preiss; these are included in the lot count but trade at dramatically lower prices
- One Bonhams lot lists the artist birth year as 1892 rather than the established 1882; such catalogue discrepancies can complicate automated matching
- The observed price range ($55–$80,500) spans original chryselephantine figures, bronze-only editions, and later reproductions; the median of $3,000 should not be applied to any single piece without material and attribution verification
- Ivory trade regulations (CITES, EU and US restrictions) may affect the marketability and legal transfer of ivory-containing works; buyers and sellers should verify compliance with applicable law
- Many unsigned or later reproductions exist in the market; careful authentication by a specialist is recommended before purchase
- The exact date of death is not firmly established in all sources; biographical gaps may affect provenance research

### Market evidence sources

- undefined: https://appraisily.com/api/scraper-search/artists/johann-philipp-ferdinand-preiss/seo-profile?recentLimit=24&relatedLimit=0
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-chryselephantine-figure-female-bust-c-1930-272-c-3514a0d964
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-classical-woman-patinated-metal-sculpture-163-c-4954598b34
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-coyness-1920s-693-c-dcc467d8a7
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-1892-1943-joueur-de-mandoline-n-1154-71-c-08340078c7
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-hoop-girl-3438-c-5cd476cb73
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-german-1882-1943-153-c-d58470f9a6
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-chryselephantine-figurine-torch-dancer-c-1928-303-c-42e4c1fa58
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-germany-1882-1943-art-deco-bron-84b-c-afd4320a06
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-johann-philipp-ferdinand-preiss-1882-1943-art-nouveau-figurine-of-torch-dancer-530-c-04b4d479a9
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-1882-1943-an-art-deco-cold-painted-bronze-and-ivory-figural-sculpture-634-c-87147729bf
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-ivory-figurine-con-brio-c-1925-345-c-5f547abbfd
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-ivory-figurine-cabaret-girl-c-1925-344-c-9024429b6c
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-shyness-1920s-317-c-9964af8926
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-1882-1943-sculpture-81-c-b394535917
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-1882-1943-97-c-229409a833
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-shyness-1920s-384-c-ce243d3a49
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-1882-1943-408-c-057446797a
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-ferdinand-preiss-german-1892-1943-powder-puff-a-cold-painted-and-carved-ivory-figure-circa-1925-220-c-2a9483a8aa

## Appraisily data basis

Appraisily artist pages combine published artist-identity research from authority files and institutional sources with auction-house catalog data, sale records, realized prices, and comparable lot information where available. For Ferdinand Preiss, identity data is drawn from Wikidata, VIAF, the Library of Congress Name Authority File, and the RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History. Market observations are grounded in publicly documented auction context and should be supplemented by professional appraisal for specific items.

## Sources

- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5443890
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Preiss
- VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/156714864/
- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2005039945
- RKD - Netherlands Institute for Art History: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/354887