Smart Phone Users-Tap the 3 lines directly below on left for navigation/site menu.
Looking to sell Cybis? Smart Phone users expand the menu and go to Contact. Desktop/Tablet users go to Contact below in the navigation options.
Children sculptures from Cybis
Depicting children in art is a practice as old as art itself. This was also the case at the Cybis studio. While the greatest volume of work produced in the early days did not focus widely on children, there were several examples and children as subject matter became increasingly popular as time passed by. Ultimately, sculptures of children were one of the largest collections in the Cybis portfolio. Possibly the first and a particularly endearing piece released from the Church Street studio was the Chinese Baby measuring 15" high. He is found marked Cordey but was likely released with color and minor design variations with the M.B.Cybis signature. Chinese Baby has his own section at the bottom of this page.
While there were numerous 1950's sculptures released depicting Christ as a child, both alone and with others, those won't be addressed in this section. All child sculptures of Christ are located under the Biblical/Religious tab in the navigation bar.
Early 1950's Children
The earliest child sculptures released by the Church Street studio (prior to the the Cybis studio becoming incorporated in 1953) were marked M.B. Cybis and/or Cordey. By the early 1950's children were being released with the Cybis signature. These are known to have been produced from molds acquired primarily from the Trenton mold company, Holland Mold. These molds were also purchased by other companies. Similar figurines can be found with various competitor's trademarks and logos, as rivals Boehm and Lenox often released their versions shortly after new Cybis introductions were available. The early 1950's children were made using china and will often be marked Cybis Fine China. After 1956 all children released by the studio were made using porcelain.
Late 1950's - Children to Cherish
With the shift away from sculptures produced using commercially purchased molds, the studio began producing porcelain art sculptures in a wide range of subject matter. Children from the late 1950's forward were individually designed by or for Cybis. Gone were the Cypia and Stained Glass finishes as Cybis children would only be available in color or white Parian porcelain. These new designs took on a softer, more innocent look that became the endearing pieces which were often the foundation of many collections.
At the time of the first introductions of Wendy and Thumbelina in 1957, the studio did not have specific categories or collections. These two were simply sold as open editions. With the introduction of collection names for various groups (such as children, animals and religious pieces), the earliest category name for the kids was Storybook Characters. By 1973 the collection name was changed to Children to Cherish, which was used until the studio closed in the early 2000's. Not all children produced over the years were part of the Children to Cherish collection. Little Miss Liberty was assigned to the Commemorative collection and David Shepherd Boy was assigned to the Biblical collection. These are examples where children were placed in other categories based on subject content.
Early 1950's Cybis Children
Tots in Angel costumes - set
Blue Boy and Pinkie in Cypia finish
Blue Boy and Pinkie in Cypia finish
These three tikes all wore angel costumes and were adorned with floral decorations and Old Coin Gold accents. Likely sold individually the three make a perfect set. Design numbers are 264 (laying on tummy), 265 (reclining) and 363 (kneeling). Produced early 1950's and retired by late 1950's.
Blue Boy and Pinkie in Cypia finish
Blue Boy and Pinkie in Cypia finish
Blue Boy and Pinkie in Cypia finish
Measuring 17" tall and attached to lamp bases, these were likely items produced as decorative attachments to lamps when the studio produced custom lamps. Design numbers unknown.
Choir Boy and Girl
Blue Boy and Pinkie in Cypia finish
Girl in hoop skirt in Cypia finish
Introduced in the early 1950's the Choir Boy, design number 257 and Choir Girl, either 256 or 258 may be part of a larger set as Holland Mold was known to have produced at least six different children in this group.
Girl in hoop skirt in Cypia finish
Girl in hoop skirt in Cypia finish
Girl in hoop skirt in Cypia finish
This piece was also a Holland Mold item which is known to have had a counterpart. Whether Cybis produced the "sister" piece or not is yet to be discovered. She measures 7" tall and likely may be found in the typical Stained Glass finish as well.
Early 1950's children
Girl in hoop skirt in Cypia finish
Early 1950's children
Blue Boy in "Blue"
Girl in hoop skirt in Cypia finish
Early 1950's children
Measuring 11" tall this porcelain sculpture was found attached to a brass lamp stand from the Cybis custom lamp collection.
Late 1950's - Children to Cherish
Wendy
Thumbelina
Peter Pan
Introduced in 1957 as design number 433 Wendy had an issue price of $35.00. Wendy is 6 1/2" tall. Available only in color, there are design variations found in the doll's face, Wendy's ribbon around her waste, shape of her pigtails and color of her hair. Wendy's design would be used for similar pieces with other variations, with each having it's own design number and in some cases introduced as a limited numbered edition.
Peter Pan
Thumbelina
Peter Pan
The first boy introduced was Peter Pan in 1958. Released as design number 430 he was available in both white and color and measures 7 1/2" tall. His issue price was $65 for white and $70 for color. There are no known design variations and only minor color variations are noted.
Thumbelina
Thumbelina
First Flight
Also introduced in 1957, Thumbelina was issued as design number 434 with an issue price of $25. Possibly the smallest of all children released, Thumbelina was only 4" tall. She was redesigned with a print in the hem of her dress and slight modifications to her hair.
First Flight
Late 1950's children in matte finish
First Flight
First Flight was introduced in 1959 as design number 410 with an issue price of $20. Older publications state her release date was 1959 but newer catalogs show her as released in 1966. Her low design number would indicate 1959 is correct over the later 1966 date, but even 1959 may be too late. Being number 410 could indicate she was possibly the first child released in 1957. That is speculation considering some items had design numbers assigned and then were in development for longer periods of time or in some cases the release was delayed. Older sculptures have blonde hair and a pink bow while newer versions have dark hair and a blue bow. Older pieces are also found on taller wooden bases as shown above. A small piece, First Flight measures 4 1/2" tall on the wooden base.
Late 1950's children in matte finish
Late 1950's children in matte finish
Late 1950's children in matte finish
This entire group could have been purchased for $215.00 in 1959.
Tinkerbell
Late 1950's children in matte finish
Late 1950's children in matte finish
Released as design number 437 in 1959, Tinkerbell was the final release of the decade for Cybis children. As stated earlier, sculptures initially were released in only two categories, Limited Editions and Open Editions. Tinkerbell was not a child but rather a Fairy. However, due to her storybook nature, Cybis assigned her to the Children's group when categories were introduced. She measures 7 1/2" tall. Available in both Parian white and color. Her issue price was $50 for white and $65 for color. While color variations have been noted, no design variations are known to exist.
Chinese Baby circa 1945
Design Number 8020
Measures 14 1/21" tall without base
Design Number 8020
Chinese Baby dates from the mid 1940's and was offered in two versions. Design number 8020 is as pictured wearing a hat. Design number 8020A was the same seated baby but without the hat.
Measures 14 1/21" tall without base
Design Number 8020
Photo taken from the Cordey salesman's catalog circa late 1940's to early 1950's.
Measures 14 1/21" tall without base
Measures 14 1/21" tall without base
Measures 14 1/21" tall without base
Close up showing flowers and lace.
Measures 14 1/21" tall without base
