Poetic Muse (reverse) 1897

Heinrich Kautsch’s 1897 silver plaque, “Poetic Muse (reverse),” depicts a draped female figure, likely representing a muse, holding a wreath and floating above a landscape. The plaque is small in size, measuring only 7.5 x 4.5 cm. The artist’s signature appears at the bottom of the piece. The inscription on the plaque includes a quote written in German. The inscription, the delicate details, and the symbolic imagery of the muse and the wreath evoke themes of inspiration, artistry, and loss.