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Female (Standing Figures) Portraits in Porcelain
Queen of Sheba 1987
Elaine Lady of the Lake 1987
Elaine Lady of the Lake 1987
Elaine Lady of the Lake 1987
Elaine Lady of the Lake 1987
Elaine Lady of the Lake 1987
Desdemona
Released in 1982 as Design 4058
This limited edition of 500 copies sold out in near record time. Undeniably, Desdemona was one of the most popular sculptures created by Cybis in the 1980's. The edition was fully subscribed a few months after her release. All 500 copies were completed and the edition closed by the end of 1984. No design or color variations have been noted.
Issue / Completed Price
$1,850 $1,975
Completed in 1984
This sculpture often appears for sale on the secondary market with damage. The most common issues involve her hands. Either or both will have fingers broken or missing. Ironically, sometimes her hands will be fine, but the handkerchief made of lace will be damaged or missing. The handkerchief was not attached with glue. Cotton lace was soaked in porcelain slip and attached to her hand prior to firing. During the firing process, the cotton burned up leaving a porcelain replica of the lace handkerchief permanently attached to her hand. Touching part of a sculpture not meant to be touched will result in damage. Careless handling will result in breakage. Moving a sculpture around inside a cabinet can be an expensive lesson if it is broken during the process. Any type of damage or breakage means the value of the sculpture is worth approximately 10% of the CURRENT MARKET VALUE of a MINT Condition item. Overall lesson: Be careful and pay close attention when handling your investment.
Measures 14 1/2" tall
The brilliant old coin gold accents used to decorate Desdemona's cape recall the early years of the studio's process of applying 24K liquid gold to sculptures. The artistic design and superb craftsmanship of this piece place it at the pinnacle of the studio's golden years. No other porcelain art studio produced human sculptures that even came close to the Portraits in Porcelain collection by Cybis.
The gold "chain" attaching the clasps of her cape just below her neck is also often damaged. This can result if she is picked up by her neck. A misplaced thumb will snap this gold piece off easily. This sculpture should always be handled from the bottom.
Berengaria
Released in 1979 as Design 4015
Another limited edition of 500 copies that sold out in the record time of two years was Berengaria. No design variations have been noted but minor color differences have been seen.
Issue / Completed Price
$1,450 $1,975
Completed 1981
The veil hanging from her crown was created from cotton fabric soaked in porcelain slip. It was then draped in place to dry on the sculpture before firing. Once in the kiln, the cotton burned up leaving the translucent porcelain veil. Each piece had a unique hand formed veil. No two are ever exactly alike.
Measures 15" tall
The entire design on Berengaria's coat was painted by hand with the floral designs outlined in 24K gold paint.
The roped piping is an area easily damaged if Berengaria is not handled properly. These thin porcelain adornments will snap off with the slightest pressure from a misplaced finger or thumb. Copies have sold in recent years with chunks of the piping missing.
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Released in 1971 as Design 461
A limited edition of 750, Eleanor of Aquitaine was introduced to commemorate the 1968 triple Academy Award winning film, The Lion in Winter.
Issue / Completed Price
$875 $925
Completed in 1975
If this sculpture has a familiar resemblance, it's because the model used was Katharine Hepburn, whose performance in The Lion in Winter won her a third Oscar for Best Actress. She would later win a fourth, a record that stands to this day. Inarguably, Hepburn was one of Hollywood's greatest actresses. She was the only Portrait in Porcelain the studio released of a real woman where the sculpture actually bore any resemblance to the person depicted.
Measures 13 1/2" tall
Relatively simple from the back, the design is reflective of the style before mirrored displays were in vogue.
The majority of Eleanor sculptures are found with light brown hair similar to Hepburn's color. Some sculptures have heavier texture on the surface of her robe. This would likely be due to newer molds versus worn older molds not retired soon enough.
Color variations have been found in her hair and the Bible she holds. Only a few blonde copies were produced. While most of the Bibles were Old Coin Gold with inset jewels, some had the background of the cross in green as shown above on the blonde example.
The most widely known design variation is commonly referred to as the "Two Ring Version". Approximately 25% of all sculptures have two rings, one on each hand. This was not a design change early or later on, as the variation is found on sculptures numbered from low to high.
Old Coin Gold was used on the Bible Eleanor holds her in left hand. Painted in 24K liquid gold, the unique finish is a Cybis technique first introduced on sculptures in the 1950's.
Ophelia
Released in 1969 as Design 460
Completed in 1974
Ophelia as entered for production was largely unchanged from the marketing photo shown on the left. Variations are widely noted in the color and arrangement of the flowers she holds. The stems were shortened as to not extend beyond the palm of the back of her hand. The most notable difference is her lace sleeves. The early model had draped fabric cuffed at the top with scalloped edges attached to the the bottom of her sleeves. This was apparently changed prior to production as all copies are found with lace attached to her sleeves. Sadly, it is this lace that is most often damaged as 50% of the sculptures sold on the secondary market have damaged lace.
Measures 13" tall
A stunning display from behind surprises any observer. Ophelia's cinched gown was designed to add stability to the sculpture allowing her to stand alone without being attached to a base. At her waist, a porcelain bow is attached that will be easily broken if handled incorrectly. This piece should always be handled from the bottom 1/3 to avoid touching any part where pressure from fingers or a thumb will snap off delicate porcelain not meant to be touched.
Cotton lace was soaked in porcelain slip before it was attached in a gathered fashion above her wrists. Once fired, the extreme heat of the kiln burned up the cotton leaving the outline of the lace in porcelain. Extremely fragile, this porcelain will break and crumble with the slightest pressure applied by touch or from wrapping material if packed improperly for shipping.
Only slight color variations are noted in the floral bouquets between sculptures.
Ophelia was offered as a limited edition restricted to 800.
Issue / Completed Price
$650 $875
Portia
Released in 1973
An extremely popular release and a limited edition restricted to 750, Portia sold out almost overnight. She was completed in three years.
Issue / Completed Price
$825 $875
Completed 1976
This sculpture is found with damage more than 50% of the time on the secondary market. Considering the solid construction of the bottom half of this sculpture, it's amazing how often damage is observed. The lace collar and curls of hair on each side of Portia's face will be broken. This results from either improper handling or packing. It seems unthinkable anyone would choose to pick this sculpture up by her neck or head, but it happens. This is a piece that should never be "wrapped" with ANY type of packing material for shipping. Portia should always be free floated in foam peanuts when packed for shipping. This is how the studio successfully shipped thousands of sculptures around the world.
Measures 13 1/2 " tall
The flared sleeves of Portia's gown become even more dramatic from behind. When displayed with other Portraits in Porcelain sculptures, it becomes obvious an owner must use extreme caution in moving this piece around, especially inside display cabinets. Portia's sleeves extend outward to the same height as the lace on Ophelia's sleeves. No doubt a few casualties have occurred between sculptures when one was being moved next to or past another. Fragile lace is no competition for solid sections when one bumps into another. Such "casualties" result in your investment plunging to a mere 10% of CURRENT MARKET VALUES.
The lace collar on the prototype appears to be much finer lace than any found on production pieces. The lace around her neck on the prototype also appears to extend well beyond her chin.
Her lace collar and curls most often appear as shown above. Curls usually hang loosely. Each piece being hand made guaranteed variances.
Less often observed are the tighter curls forming ringlets on each side of her face. This confirms the studio's constant declaration no two pieces are alike.
While no significant color or design variations have been found, the prototype used for marketing photos shows a signature in gold (above the seal) on the decree in her right hand. The signature is yet to be deciphered.
No production copies have been found with the signature in gold above the seal. However, all production sculptures found are incised "Cybis 73" above the seal as shown above. Of course, 73 commemorates the year of Portia's release.
Other minor color variations exist. Those are likely due to firing irregularities. One Portia with blue accents was sold at auction but she was likely also a result of kiln irregularities or possibly a special order requested by a collector.
Queen Esther
Released 1974
Released as a limited edition restricted to 750 copies, Queen Esther was reduced to 650 in the spring of 1980. Her status was changed to "Completed" in 1981. Esther is a Biblical character but was never a part of the Biblical category.
Issue / Completed Price
$750 $1100
Design number 480
The initial marketing photos were of a prototype with blonde hair and blue eyes. What is not known is if the freelance artist who created and sold the sculpture designed it to be the Biblical character Esther from the Bible, or if the studio decided to introduce this sculpture as Queen Esther after acquiring it. It is likely, the decision to identify her as Esther from the Bible also resulted in giving her brown hair and eyes.
Measures 13 1/2" tall
Old Coin Gold accents using 24K liquid gold decorate Esther's crown, her brocaded collar, jeweled belt and shoes. Excluding the Bible held by Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Old Coin Gold accents on Queen Esther were the first to be used to this extent since the 1950's. It certainly foreshadowed the return of this finish being widely used again by the studio to decorate sculptures.
Few to no color variations are observed among production pieces. Apart from subtle differences attributed to individual artist's techniques, no color variations are noted.
While production items lack color variations, there are three design variations widely found. These differences exist on the back of the sculpture in her hair. Multiple molded pieces comprise the design of Esther's hair. In the picture above and following, from right to left can be observed a basic form where individual curled ringlets of hair were added near her shoulders. The middle sculpture shows the ringlets replaced with molded curls. The sculpture on the left has two molded pieces added to fill out her hair.
While Esther has variations in her hair, there is no proof one design is earlier than another as these variations are randomly found across the edition of 650. This raises one question. Why? The studio allowed was flexible in allowing employees to "improvise" when necessary. While it appears the Artist's Proofs were followed by decorators in painting sculptures, the mounters in the mold department made adjustments on days when molded parts were in short supply.
Good Queen Anne
Released 1978
Initially released as an issue restricted to 750, the edition size was reduced to 550 by 1980. Good Queen Anne was completed in 1983.
Issue / Completed Price
$975 $1,250
Design number 4001
No design or color variations are known.
There are three points where damage is regularly noted on this sculpture. First and most often damaged is the extended pinkie on her left hand. Sculptures are listed on the secondary market with the finger reattached with glue or missing entirely. The curls of hair on each side of her face are also frequently found damaged. Lastly, the four ribbons and flowers on the back of her head are observed missing or poorly repaired.
Measures 14" tall
Most Cybis marketing material, such as catalogs, brochures and price lists contain reliable information. One noted exception relates to Good Queen Anne. A typo was made in late 1980 on the declared issue. The correct number of 550 was stated as 350, indicating another reduction had been made. This was not the case as numerous copies have been found numbered higher than 350. Several have sold in the 400 to 499 range. Likely, the error occurred and was not caught during proofing. It was then carried over in every list going forward. There is no doubt all 550 copies were made as #520 was listed for sale online at the beginning of 2025.
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Lady Macbeth
Released 1975
Issue / Completed Price
$850 $1,225
Design number 483
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Measures 13" tall
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Dawn
Released 1962
Introduced in 1962 Dawn was available in color and white. Sold through 1966 there were no price increases for the four years she was available.
Issue / Completed Price
$75 $75 white
$90 $90 color
Design number 440
Released as an open edition, Dawn was placed in the "Personages" category and later moved to the Children to Cherish category. The studio was known to move sculptures between categories as collection descriptions changed. In Dawn's case, once Personages became the Portraits in Porcelain collection, one qualification was for sculptures to be limited editions with a declared edition size. As on open edition Dawn and two others (Robin Hood and Ballerina on Cue) no longer qualified and were moved out. A rather sensual "young" woman, Dawn can hardly be classified as a child. But her youthful appearance was enough to justify moving her (and her other open companions) to the Children to Cherish collection.
Measures 10 1/2" tall
Perhaps the flowing scarf attached to Dawn's hands, hair and back created production challenges as it appears this would be a difficult sculpture to produce. Then it is possible the piece simply did not sell well. Dawn is one of the rarest Cybis sculptures and seldom seen. Only two copies, one white and one color have been offered on the secondary market in the last 20 years.
A production accomplishment this piece handles well is the red to orange to yellow color transitions in her scarf. It would not be nearly two decades before the studio would attempt attached flowing scarfs to other pieces. Madame Butterfly in 1984 and Scheherazade in 1989 repeated similar concepts.
Perhaps one of the Cybis studio's best kept secrets is how some sculptures were "recycled" to create entirely new pieces. Common throughout the 1950's, a standard mold was changed slightly and reintroduced as a new sculpture.
Dawn was redesigned with new arm positions, a new hairdo and a set of wings. The new sculpture was introduced in 1977 as queen Titania.