Statuette (Animal Figurine) - Vulture

Ceramics and Glass Collection

Accession Nr.: 17597
Artist/Maker:
Kövesházi, Elza (1876 - 1956) / designer
Date of production:
ca. 1910
Place of production: Budapest
Inscription: talp belsejében masszába karcolt 1014 (formaszám); kék szegélyes
papírcímkén a művész neve elmosódva
Materials: black clay
Techniques: pressed in mould; reduction-fired; without glaze
Dimensions:
height: 23,5 cm
width: 6,4 cm
depth: 7,9 cm
This vulture is the embodiment of threatening attention. The bird sits on the octagonal, simple plinth, looking for its prey. The claw feet grab at the protruding prism. The wings are shaped of straight, vertical planes, whereas the back of the bird is domed, rising above the wings. The feathers are shaped with scratched-in lines. The vulture draws back its neck and flat head, with the hooked beak held stiffly to the front. The feathers in the curve of the wing raised in a threatening way. Due to reduction-firing, the surface of the object is black, matte. Another version covered with brown glaze was impressed with the No. 1014 in the Wiener Kunstkeramische Werkstätte (see Hungarian National Gallery, Statues, Inv.No. 5949- N). This is probably the model for the glazed version.

Literature

  • Szerk.: Siemen Wilhelm: Ceramic - Culture - Innovation, 1851-2000. Deutsches Porzellanmuseum, Hohenberg an der Eger, 2002. - p. 79.
  • Szerk.: Szilágyi András, Horányi Éva: Szecesszió. A 20. század hajnala. (Az európai iparművészet korszakai.). Iparművészeti Múzeum, Budapest, 1996. - Nr. 9.139. (Csenkey Éva)
  • Csenkey Éva: A magyar szecesszió kerámiaművészete. Iparművészeti Múzeum, Budapest, 1985. - Nr. 137.