Werner Mummert: Sandblasted Bent Bulldog

Werner Mummert is known for his Bulldog renditions, his signature versions exuding an extremely crisp, architectural, and angular style and are often dressed in the German carver's avant-garde Art Deco finish. By contrast, this bent interpretation poses a much softer, flowing aesthetic, seeing Werner diversify his approach to the shape.

Like the aforementioned examples of Mummert's signature Bulldog renditions, this piece features a slightly elongated shank and abbreviated stem, but here with a subtle S-curve flowing through the form. The panels of the shank still continue into the lower bowl and heel but in a much less dramatic fashion than other versions, with this one prioritizing a softer sense of line and curve. The softer style is especially apparent at the rim, which is inflated gently above the bowl's high-set beadlines. Fitting with the shaping, the sandblasted finish is reserved and genteel, dressed in a dark stain and accented by a pale red accent of vulcanite along the stem base, hinting at Werner's penchant for colorful palettes.