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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
The Enchanted Princess Aurora 1973
The Enchanted Princess Aurora 1973
The Enchanted Princess Aurora 1973
The Bride 1987
The Enchanted Princess Aurora 1973
The Enchanted Princess Aurora 1973
Desdemona
Released in 1982 as Design 4058
Released in 1982 as Design 4058
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
Released in 1982 as Design 4058
Released in 1982 as Design 4058
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
Released in 1982 as Design 4058
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.
Measures 14 1/2" tall
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
Released in 1979 as Design 4015
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
Released in 1979 as Design 4015
Released in 1979 as Design 4015
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
Released in 1979 as Design 4015
Measures 15" tall
The entire design on Berengaria's coat was painted by hand with the floral designs outlined in 24K gold paint.
Measures 15" tall
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
Released in 1971 as Design 461
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
Released in 1971 as Design 461
Released in 1971 as Design 461
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
Released in 1971 as Design 461
Measures 13 1/2" tall
Relatively simple from the back, the design is reflective of the style before mirrored displays were in vogue.
Measures 13 1/2" tall
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 verses 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
Released in 1969 as Design 460
Released in 1969 as Design 460
Completed in 1974
Released in 1969 as Design 460
Released in 1969 as Design 460
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
Released in 1969 as Design 460
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.
Measures 13" tall
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
Measures 13 1/2 " tall
Completed in 1976
A limited edition restricted to 750,
Issue / Completed Price
$825 $875
Completed in 1976
Measures 13 1/2 " tall
Completed in 1976
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Measures 13 1/2 " tall
Measures 13 1/2 " tall
Measures 13 1/2 " tall
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Measures 13 1/2 " tall
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