Large sculptured terracotta statue depicting a shrimp fisher, design by the hand of Jarnost Gause from shortly after WW2, featuring his signature as well as the mentioning Neoceram/Nieuwpoort. The Nieuwpoort brick factory gained fame mostly through its production of terracotta stones. The basilica of Koekelberg in Brussels, which was built entirely with Nieuwpoort stones, was one of the main customers. The brickyard indeed housed an art studio that was set up specifically for sculpturing. Neoceram was the official name of the art studio, though art objects and souvenirs from that time also often feature the names 'Art Studio Nieuwpoort' or 'Studio d'Art Nieuwpoort'. Every now and then you can also find the artist's initials on these pieces. Josef Arnost Gause (Split Lucac, Czechoslovakia, 23 March 1910 – Ontario, 1989) was a Czech sculptor from the 20th century who lived in Belgium and later emigrated to Canada. Gause sculpted the daughter of Albéric Florizoone, mayor of Oostduinkerke. He thus became designated to create religious sculptures for, among others, the St. Niklaas church in Oostduinkerke, but also for the St. Bernardus church of Nieuwpoort and the Begijnhof chapel of Diksmuide. Gause also created smaller works in terracotta or bronze, his famous pieces being the 'Shrimp Fisher on Horseback' and the four figurines of Spike and Suzy, which were baked by the Florizoone brickyard in Nieuwpoort. Condition: in very good condition with minimal signs of wear and a gorgeous patina. Measurements: Height 34 cm, width 29.5 cm. Base is 24 cm x 10.5 cm, weight is 3,400 grams.