Flowers/Porcelain Gardens

Cybis Flowers / Porcelain Gardens

The Porcelain Gardens by Cybis

The earliest sculptures released by Cybis were decorated with flowers. Each petal was individually hand formed. Therefore, it's no surprise that Cybis created an entire collection just for flowers. There's no doubt, the Cybis Studio pioneered floral studies in the American porcelain arts. While Europeans made some impressive floral designs in fine china, Cybis raised the bar by creating sculptures in their own unique formula of porcelain. While subsequent firms following Cybis may be acclaimed for special achievements in the U.S. and the U.K., Cybis was not only first, but set the standards for porcelain floral design. The others simply followed. While the competition was busy trying to catch up by making birds, animals and even Disney characters, Cybis continued to raise the bar by creating captivating works that remained entirely made of porcelain. Meanwhile, the competition resorted to inserting metal rods and wire "coated with porcelain" in various attempts to meet the beauty Cybis had already accomplished years before. While inferior products made using such materials are today cracking and peeling, the pure works porcelain produced by Cybis are still delighting third and fourth generation collectors and are as beautiful as they were the day they left the studio in Trenton.

Golden Clarion (Lily)

Released 1961

Design number 501

Introduced in 1961 as a limited edition restricted to 100 copies, the Golden Clarion was completed in 1970. It was available only in Parian color. No design or color variations have been found.

The earliest sculptures were signed and numbered on the bottom (as shown next). Later editions would be attached to a wooden base and then signed and numbered on the back of the sculpture.

Issue / Completed Price

$250 $250

Measures 11" tall

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Magnolia

Released 1963

Introduced as on open edition, the magnolia was produced in Parian color and white. Some time after introduction a wooden base was introduced and shipped with all orders. Bases were later discontinued in 1975.

Design number 504

The Parian white was made from 1963 to 1965.

Issue / Completed Price

$45 $45 white in 1965

$67 $310 color in 1979

Measures 4" x 7"

The earliest design did not look like a magnolia. The actual flower was quickly redesigned within the first year. The only "pink toned" versions are found in the design shown above with sharper pointed petals.

Round blunt end stamen used on later sculptures through the 1970's.

Flat "shaved' shaped stamen used in the early 1970's.

Elongated sharp end stamen used in 1960's.

The magnolia flower sits on a designed branch which was recycled for use on several other Cybis sculptures.

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Dahlia

Released 1964

Introduced as a limited edition restricted to 350 copies, Dahlia was completed in 1968.

Design number 508

The Dahlia was assembled from over 100 separate components and fired to create one single piece of porcelain. No design variations have been found. Due to the fact each piece is hand assembled, no two pieces are alike and some Dahlia sculptures are very different in structure.

Produced in Parian color only. While the primary color sold was in yellow, the less often seen pink Dahlia was also available.

Issue / Completed Price

$450 $500

Measures 12" tall

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Narcissus

Released 1968

Design number 516

Introduced as a limited edition restricted to a declared issue of 500, Narcissus was completed in 1973. Narcissus has no known design or color variations.

Like the Calla and Iris, the Narcissus stems are attached to a round porcelain base designed to sit inside a felt covered wooden base. To secure the sculpture inside the wooden base, a cork ring lines the socket to provide a snug fit when the sculpture is inserted.

Issue / Completed Price

$350 $350