Ditmar Urbach - Bowl - Earthenware - Polar bear at the pool
00
days
11
hours
37
minutes
10
seconds
Current bid
€ 43
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Michel Karis
Art historian with extensive experience working at various auction houses in antiques.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
31 other people are watching this object
 | €43 |
|---|
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 132061 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Rare 1930s faience sculpture by Ditmar Urbach from Czechoslovakia, in Art Deco style, depicting a polar bear leaning over a turquoise basin, 18 cm high and 20 cm wide, in good condition with minor wear.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Magnificent rare ceramic piece from the 1930s that not only serves as a beautiful decorative object; it tells a unique story. This model was specifically designed to celebrate Nora, the very first polar bear at Prague Zoo. The sculpture captures the animal in a lively observant pose, leaning over a basin that imitates a rock formation or an ice pool.
Made in Czechoslovakia during the interwar period, this object bears the prestigious Condit Urbach mark. The manufacture was then at the height of its art, renowned for its technical mastery and avant-garde style. You can find the era's characteristic aesthetics with a striking contrast between the bear's immaculate white and the basin's vibrant turquoise glaze, a color emblematic of their production.
From an artistic standpoint, the piece fits perfectly within the Art Deco movement. The handling of volumes, the irregular texture of the base and the glaze's sheen give it a distinctive character. Despite its age, the piece is in good condition but with a slight flaw on its ear. The glazed finish has retained all its original brilliance, showing only minimal signs of wear, which is exceptional for ceramics of this period.
Approximate dimensions:
18 cm height
20 cm width
Sold as is as shown in the photos, delivery in France and abroad
Magnificent rare ceramic piece from the 1930s that not only serves as a beautiful decorative object; it tells a unique story. This model was specifically designed to celebrate Nora, the very first polar bear at Prague Zoo. The sculpture captures the animal in a lively observant pose, leaning over a basin that imitates a rock formation or an ice pool.
Made in Czechoslovakia during the interwar period, this object bears the prestigious Condit Urbach mark. The manufacture was then at the height of its art, renowned for its technical mastery and avant-garde style. You can find the era's characteristic aesthetics with a striking contrast between the bear's immaculate white and the basin's vibrant turquoise glaze, a color emblematic of their production.
From an artistic standpoint, the piece fits perfectly within the Art Deco movement. The handling of volumes, the irregular texture of the base and the glaze's sheen give it a distinctive character. Despite its age, the piece is in good condition but with a slight flaw on its ear. The glazed finish has retained all its original brilliance, showing only minimal signs of wear, which is exceptional for ceramics of this period.
Approximate dimensions:
18 cm height
20 cm width
Sold as is as shown in the photos, delivery in France and abroad
Details
Era
1900-2000
Specific region of origin
Tchecoslovaquie
Title additional information
Polar bear at the pool
Number of objects
1
Country of origin
Slovakia
Manufacturer/brand
Ditmar Urbach
Material
Earthenware
Style
Art Deco
Colour
Blue, Turquoise
Condition
Good condition - used with small signs of ageing
Height
18 cm
Width
20 cm
Depth
0 cm
Decor
animal painter
Estimated period
1920-1930
