Absentee bids let you place your maximum bid on an item before the live auction begins. During the live show, we’ll continue bidding on your behalf up to your max bid — just like leaving a bid with a traditional auctioneer.
When you place an absentee bid, the system sets the current bid conservatively — just enough to keep you in the lead without revealing your full amount.
The current bid shown on each lot reflects all confirmed absentee bids and updates automatically as new bids come in.
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Bidding Quick Facts
How bidding works
All items have a minimum bid of $1.00.
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Your absentee bid for Lot 012 - Vintage Porcelain Mephisto (Mephistopheles) Figurine, By Karl Tutter For Hutschenreuther, Germany, Kunstabteilung, U.S. Zone Mark, Note Feather-On-Hat And Hood Repaired With Visible Glue, Circa 1955, 11-1/2" H was successfully submitted—thank you for bidding with us!
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Lot 012 - Vintage Porcelain Mephisto (Mephistopheles) Figurine, By Karl Tutter For Hutschenreuther, Germany, Kunstabteilung, U.S. Zone Mark, Note Feather-On-Hat And Hood Repaired With Visible Glue, Circa 1955, 11-1/2" H
Lot 012 - Vintage Porcelain Mephisto (Mephistopheles) Figurine, By Karl Tutter For Hutschenreuther, Germany, Kunstabteilung, U.S. Zone Mark, Note Feather-On-Hat And Hood Repaired With Visible Glue, Circa 1955, 11-1/2" H
Vintage porcelain figure depicting Mephisto / Mephistopheles (the devil) from Goethe's "Faust" in dramatic pose. Underside bears the following marks: a lion hallmark with the letters L.H.S. Germany, and the designation Kunstabteilung U.S. Zone (denoting the art-division export line produced under U.S. occupation). It is also stamped or inscribed “K. Tutter" in porcelain referencing the modeller Karl Tutter, active for Hutschenreuther, as seen in many comparable pieces.
In the sculptural rendering, the feather on his hat has been broken off and crudely repaired with adhesive, visible as glue residue; likewise, there is a glue mark on the lower right corner of his hood from repair.
The figurine exhibits hand-painted detail, stylized costume, and iconography consistent with mid-20th century Hutschenreuther “Kunstabteilung” output. The U.S. Zone marking would date manufacture to the post-World War II occupation years (c. late 1940s–1950s) under Hutschenreuther export division.
Surface shows minor wear, glaze crazing, and typical age patina.