Faience Plastic Art

Faience plastic art is a special form of decorative art where the main material is faience, that is, porous white-fired clay covered with glaze. From it, not only dishes were created, but also exquisite sculptures, figurines, and decorative groups. In the 18th–19th centuries, such items were especially loved in Europe, where they adorned palace interiors and noblemen's studies.

The main advantage of faience plastic art is the combination of elegant forms and the warmth of the material: the surface shines but does not chill like porcelain. Masters valued the ease of processing and the possibility of precise detailing. Sometimes figurines were hand-painted, adding liveliness to the images – from genre scenes to allegories.

Interestingly, in England faience sculptures often depicted domestic animals and caricature figures, while in France – elegant beige-blue ladies and shepherdesses.