Statue, Busto di Giullare - 31 cm - Earthenware
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€ 1
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Selected by Paul Wullems
He accumulated 18 years' experience, worked as junior specialist at Sotheby’s and managed Kunsthandel Jacques Fijnaut.
Estimate € 300 - € 400
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Description from the seller
Jester Bust – Terracotta – Italy, Late 19th / Early 20th century – Signed "S." on the back
Suggestive bust of a jester crafted in terracotta in Italy between the late 19th and early 20th century. The work stands out for the remarkable quality of modelling and for the extraordinary expressive strength of the face, capable of conveying all the ambiguity of one of the most enigmatic figures in the courtly imagination.
The head tilted, the elusive gaze and the barely hinted smile give rise to a sly and piercing expression. It is not the naive laugh of the entertainer, but the subtle one of someone quietly observing what happens around him. The face seems to conceal a secret, evoking the jester’s role as a character apparently ridiculed, but in reality always at the center of the court’s dynamics, a privileged observer and keeper of truths that others ignored.
The modelling reveals an expert hand, with careful anatomical study of the face, delicate light-dark transitions, and a particularly refined rendering of details. The costume, decorated with the traditional diamond motif and enhanced by the frilled collar, together with the distinctive curved headdress, gives the composition a strong stage balance and a captivating presence.
On the back is present the signature "S.", indicating the artist’s intention to identify their work, while at the moment it is not yet attributed with certainty.
A sculpture of notable decorative and collecting value, ideal for collections dedicated to Italian terracotta, figurative sculpture from the late 19th to early 20th century, and art objects with a strong expressive character.
Material: Terracotta
Origin: Italy
Period: Late 19th – early 20th century (circa 1890–1910)
Signature: "S." incised on the back
Condition: Good state of preservation, consistent with the age of the piece.
Jester Bust – Terracotta – Italy, Late 19th / Early 20th century – Signed "S." on the back
Suggestive bust of a jester crafted in terracotta in Italy between the late 19th and early 20th century. The work stands out for the remarkable quality of modelling and for the extraordinary expressive strength of the face, capable of conveying all the ambiguity of one of the most enigmatic figures in the courtly imagination.
The head tilted, the elusive gaze and the barely hinted smile give rise to a sly and piercing expression. It is not the naive laugh of the entertainer, but the subtle one of someone quietly observing what happens around him. The face seems to conceal a secret, evoking the jester’s role as a character apparently ridiculed, but in reality always at the center of the court’s dynamics, a privileged observer and keeper of truths that others ignored.
The modelling reveals an expert hand, with careful anatomical study of the face, delicate light-dark transitions, and a particularly refined rendering of details. The costume, decorated with the traditional diamond motif and enhanced by the frilled collar, together with the distinctive curved headdress, gives the composition a strong stage balance and a captivating presence.
On the back is present the signature "S.", indicating the artist’s intention to identify their work, while at the moment it is not yet attributed with certainty.
A sculpture of notable decorative and collecting value, ideal for collections dedicated to Italian terracotta, figurative sculpture from the late 19th to early 20th century, and art objects with a strong expressive character.
Material: Terracotta
Origin: Italy
Period: Late 19th – early 20th century (circa 1890–1910)
Signature: "S." incised on the back
Condition: Good state of preservation, consistent with the age of the piece.
Details
Era
1900-2000
Country of origin
Italy
Material
Earthenware
Title of artwork
Busto di Giullare
Signature
Signed
Condition
Good condition
Height
31 cm
Width
25 cm
Depth
15 cm
Weight
4 kg
