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171
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‘Odalisque’ umbrella handle. ‘Odalisque’ umbrella handle
See original version (French)
171
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‘Odalisque’ umbrella handle. ‘Odalisque’ umbrella handle
See original version (French)
Estimate €2,500 - €3,500
Voluntary lot
Description
‘Odalisque’ umbrella handle. ‘Odalisque’ umbrella handle
Artist: Natalia Danko (1892–1942)
State Porcelain Factory, Petrograd, 1920s.
Painted porcelain
8.5 × 5 cm.
Expert: Ms Ekaterina Nikolaeva-Tendil
A leading figure in Soviet porcelain of the first half of the 20th century, Natalia Danko headed the sculpture department at the Petrograd State Porcelain Factory from 1919.
Upon her arrival at the Manufactory, she created a whole series of sculptural works on the theme of the Red Army and symbols of the Soviet world (porcelain figurines such as ‘The Red Army Soldier’, ‘The Sailor’, ‘The Famine’, ‘The Female Worker Embroidering the Banner’, etc.). The high quality of her works, entirely in keeping with the pre-revolutionary period, the psychological depth of her characters and the Soviet themes brought Natalia Danko renown, making her one of the founders of Soviet propaganda porcelain. However, she is also the creator of over 300 sculptures and small-scale works. These include remarkable pieces on themes inspired by classical Russian literature and art, portraits of ballet dancers, as well as sculptural groups depicting scenes from everyday life (‘Woman with a Pumpkin’, ‘Uzbek Woman with Fruit’, ‘Woman Doing Her Shopping’, ‘Alcoholic’, etc.). Many of these works were created in collaboration with her sister, the artist Elena Danko, and other leading artists from the State Porcelain Manufactory, ensuring high quality and a wide variety of themes. Her work occupies a unique place in the history of Russian decorative arts, at the crossroads between the sculptural tradition inherited from the imperial era and the new ideological directions of the Soviet state.
‘Odalisque’ umbrella handle
By Natalya Yakovlevna Danko (1892–1942)
State Porcelain Factory, Petrograd, 1920s
Porcelain, overglaze painting
8.5 × 5 cm.
The works of the talented sculptor and ceramist Natalya Danko are among the hallmarks of Soviet porcelain from the first half of the 20th century. As head of the sculpture department at the State Porcelain Factory from 1919, she created a whole series of sculptural works on the theme of the Red Army and symbols of the Soviet world (porcelain figurines such as ‘Red Army Soldier’, ‘Sailor’, ‘Famine’, ‘Worker Embroidering a Banner’ and others). The high, distinctly pre-revolutionary quality of her work, the psychological depth of her figures and her Soviet themes brought Natalya Danko fame, establishing her as one of the founders of Soviet propaganda porcelain as such. However, she created over 300 sculptures and small-scale works of art. These include remarkable pieces on themes inspired by Russian classical literature and art, portraits of ballet dancers, and sculptural groups depicting scenes from the lives of the people (‘Woman with a Pumpkin’, ‘Uzbek Woman with Fruit’, ‘Woman with Groceries’, ‘The Alcoholic’ and others) Many of the works were created in collaboration with her sister, the artist Elena Danko, and other leading artists at the State Porcelain Factory, ensuring high quality and a wide variety of themes. Natalia Danko is still regarded as one of the most talented artists of the heyday of Soviet porcelain
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Ref. : 1304 - 1
Pictures modified on 09/14/2026 at 6:33 PM
Lot description modified on 09/14/2026 at 6:33 PM
Pictures credits:
Inu Studio
See original version (French)
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