Lenci Figurine with Frog
First of all I am not an expert on Lenci ceramics but I occasionally get questions from readers regarding ceramics and figurines they wish to identify or evaluate and I try to point them in the right direction if I can. Here is a example of one case. The owner of the lady with frog pictured here was looking for help identifying her figurine. A friend who had a great reference book at the time was able to find a page showing that lady was originally standing in a cup – I expect you would fill the cup with water as a display or centerpiece. The title is NUDA CON RANOCCHIO CON COPPA by Mario Sturani, an artist who worked for Lenci, the mark on the original is “Lenci Made in Italy Torino B. s.g.d.”
The figurine is 10x35cm and the cup is 12x17cm.
I also found a Lot Description online in the Christies past auctions with price from a previous auction which refers to a lady that is not in a cup.:
Lot details: “A Lenci matt glazed figure of a naked young girl standing holding a green frog in the right hand, painted factory mark (restored) — 13½in. high”
Price Realized (Set Currency) £1,210
($1,884)
Price includes buyer’s premium
Estimate£1,000 – £1,500
($1,557 – $2,336)
Sale Information
Sale 4867
decorative arts,1850 to the present day
10 December 1992
London, South Kensington
Reference Page Showing complete Lenci Figure in Cup
On the same reference page is another art deco looking figurine of a Lady holding a frog in one hand and shading it with the other hand. This one is called GINESTRA and it is by Sandro Vacchetti , Marked Essevi Made in Italy Torino 1-939 XVII.
A good reference book for Lenci ceramics is Le Ceramiche Lenci by Alfonso Panzetta (Link to book page at Amazon) – the full title is “Le ceramiche Lenci, 1928-1964: Catalogo generale dall’archivio storico della manifattura” . Its currently out of print but it worth looking for used copies if you can get one.
Description:
“The privilege of exclusive access to the archive of the legendary factory in Turin, whose works are now highly sought after by museums and collectors around the world, has allowed us to make this work, which classifies the almost total ceramic production during the entire activity atelier. In addition to an exceptional array of nearly two thousand copies, some of which works now found, scattered in unknown locations and perhaps destroyed, this systematic repertoire includes all relevant information, meticulously verified as dating, names of artists and decorators, trademarks, measures and number of units produced.”