Vintage Folk Art Brazilian Sculpture of Musician by Joāo Ezequiel, Signed

Details

Description

Artist: Joāo Ezequiel (Brazilian, active mid-20th Century)

Culture/Region: Maragogipinho, Bahia, Brazil

Date: Mid-20th Century

Medium: Terracotta ceramic, unglazed

Dimensions: 5.25” … Read more Artist: Joāo Ezequiel (Brazilian, active mid-20th Century)

Culture/Region: Maragogipinho, Bahia, Brazil

Date: Mid-20th Century

Medium: Terracotta ceramic, unglazed

Dimensions: 5.25” H x 2.25” W x 2.25” D (13.3 x 5.7 x 5.7 cm)

Description:

A terracotta sculpture depicting a musician playing an accordion and singing into a standing microphone. Rendered in a classic Brazilian folk art style. The unglazed surface highlights the natural reddish-brown clay body. The piece bears the artist's stamp on the bottom.

Artistic Context & History:

This work emerges from the ceramic tradition of Maragogipinho, a village in Bahia, Brazil renowned as a center for folk pottery and figurative sculpture. Joāo Ezequiel worked within this tradition alongside noted artists like Vitelino (Vitalino Pereira dos Santos), creating scenes that documented and celebrated daily life, regional customs, and musical culture of Northeast Brazil. The choice to leave the ceramic unglazed reflects both traditional practices and a desire to emphasize the sculptural qualities of the form.

Condition Report:

The sculpture is in very good condition. The terracotta shows a consistent, attractive patina from age and handling. There are minor surface scratches and wear consistent with the piece's history. There are no cracks, repairs, or restoration. The signature remains clearly visible. See less