Desktop ornaments

Ronde-bosse figures depicting life-size animals.

As well as making dinner sets and other crockery, Porcelanas Bidasoa also manufactured purely decorative items based on natural models. The artists drew their inspiration from both the animal world (as in the photo) and from trees and plants. A mould was made faithfully reproducing the form and colour of the models. To do this, the company had a group of very fine local artists who carried out or directed the entire process: preparation of the figure, moulds, joining the different moulded pieces and hand-painting or design of the decoration. The company also worked with major international artists. Their designs were used especially for of crockery or ornamental items.

The figure of the duck was inglaze painted by hand by Antonio Mateo in 1983. The base is stamped "BIDASOA" in black in a green laurel wreath and inscribed (in English) MADE IN SPAIN. Antonio Mateo, 83.

The figure of the rabbit, with a lid was inglaze painted by hand by Antonio Mateo in 1984. The base is stamped "BIDASOA" in black in a green laurel wreath and inscribed (in English) MADE IN SPAIN. Antonio Mateo, 84.

The figure of the guinea-pig, also hand-painted and with a lid, is not signed. On the base, under the glaze, the fresh clay has been die-stamped: “PB”

Bibliography:

Álvarez, Marian ; Jiménez, Maite ; Mujika Goñi, Amaia. Euskal lozak eta portzelanak : XVIII-XX mendeak = Lozas y porcelanas vascas : siglos XVIII-XX. Bilbao: Euskal Museoa = Museo Vasco, 2009. 469-511.