A Stock Market Tip.

A rare hand-painted ceramic sculpture by Maresch, depicting a Jewish man in traditional long black frock whispering into the ear of a wealthy financier-type gentleman. A typical turn-of-the-century anti-semitic figurine, not many of which survived. Similar figurines held in the collections of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and of Yad Vashem.

Johann Maresch (1821–1914) was a German-Czech businessman and politician from Ústí nad Labem, Bohemia. In 1845 he joined Adolf Bähr who owned a factory in Pirna, Saxony, making ceramic goods and garden gnomes. Maresch became the commercial director and in 1841 took up the production of household articles made from siderolith in Aussig. After Bähr's death in 1849 Maresch married Bähr's daughter Marie Luise, and in 1851 became a shareholder of the new company 'Bähr & Maresch' with his mother-in-law Wilhelmine Bähr.

Under Maresch's leadership production was extended to include terracotta and majolica pieces. In 1860 Maresch took over the business, changing its name to 'Johann Maresch, Aussig / Bohemia', remaining at the helm until 1890, his son joining him in 1873. Maresch products were popular all over Europe and overseas, with their ceramic items being sought after by collectors. The company ceased production in 1948.

Hand-painted ceramic sculpture, slightly rubbed, 30.5 x 12 x 18 cm, with maker's mark 'JM&Co 9621' impressed to base.