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Mid-Century Nude Male Acephale Sang de Boeuf Ceramic Sculpture with Marble Base.

About the Item

French Mid 20th Century ceramic figure of a man in Sang de Boeuf, oxblood red, glaze presented on a metal 'tige' and marble base. The sculpture is not signed but was purchased from Nice, France, in the 1970s as a work by 'Franta'. it is however reminiscent of other artists of this period. The modelling is wonderfully executed and one can feel the fingers and hands of the artist in the material. The ceramic glaze in oxblood red has been beautifully applied and has a wonderful colour and texture. At times the glaze is deliberately so thin as to exaggerate the musculature and sinewy nature if the piece. The work is almost 'zoomorphic' in the way the artist has handled the shoulders and lower torso of the acrobatic figure. A real talking piece. Sang de Bœuf, Oxblood or ox-blood is a dark shade of red. It resembles burgundy, but has less purple and more dark brown hues. The French term sang-de-bœuf, or sang de bœuf, with the same meaning (but also "ox blood") is used in various contexts in English, but especially in pottery, where sang de boeuf glaze in the colour is a classic ceramic glaze in Chinese ceramics. Franta is one of the leading representatives of the European post-war wave of New Figuration, which responded to a deep crisis of human values and feelings of alienation. It represents a radical break from realistic representation and interprets the artist's inner reflection in confrontation with the social and existential catastrophes of modern times. He became one of the few Czech artists who have stood out on the world art scene and his importance in France can be ranked alongside names such as Alphonse Mucha, František Kupka, Josef Šíma and Jiří Kolář.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 23.63 in (60 cm)Width: 7.09 in (18 cm)Depth: 5.12 in (13 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • After:
    Franta (Frantisek Merte) (1930, Czechoslovakian)
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Unglazed ceramic visible in parts. Some movement in the joint between base and sculpture.
  • Gallery Location:
    Cotignac, FR
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: GB/AcephaleSculpture1stDibs: LU1430213153002
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