Der Totentanz is a joint work by Hans Zimmermann (1897 – 1972) and his wife Helene Gassmann dating back to the years 1935. They released a 48 cm high folder, the “Totentanz. Bilderfolge nach Figuren aus gebranntem Ton ”with 2 loose leaves and 20 loose photographic plates in original passe-partou published by Verlag Hallwag A.G. Bern, from fired clay figures, which came from family property. This was issued in a deluxe edition of 100 copies and a regular edition of 200 copies. The statues were cast in cire perdu bronze.

The sculpture is a bronze from the Totentanz issued in cire perdu, which corresponds to number 6 in the catalog and is known as “die zwweiflung”. It is marked in the base with the inscribed handwritten “H. Gassmann u. H. Zimmermann ”and also with the name of the bronze foundry in a rectangle in capital letters“ CIREPERDU KUNSTGUSS…. WINIUSHVA ”?? I can hardly decipher the latter.

The statue is in very good condition, some green discoloration in the bronze here and there, but this only adds to the beauty. See also: “Zimmermann – Gassmann” “Totentanz” catalog with 4 cover pages, followed by 20 photos of original statues in passe-partou, published in Bern.