1950s Pair of Italian Ceramic Cockatoo Figurines by Urbano Zaccagnini

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Enhance your decor with this charming pair of vintage Italian ceramic cockatoo figurines bearing the maker’s mark of Urbano Zaccagnini … Read more Enhance your decor with this charming pair of vintage Italian ceramic cockatoo figurines bearing the maker’s mark of Urbano Zaccagnini from the 1950s. They are a perfect expression of sleek and sophisticated midcentury style. These gracefully sculpted avian figures are finished in a luminous, high-gloss clear glaze that beautifully accentuates the stylized feather details and expressive crests of the two birds perched upon branches with leaves. The monochromatic maroon red color palette ensures they remain timeless statement pieces that effortlessly bridge the gap between traditional Chinoiserie and contemporary minimalism.
These figurines are perfectly scaled for styling on a mantle, an entryway console, or within a curated bookshelf vignette, perhaps as bookends. The set includes two slightly varying sizes to create a dynamic visual pair: one measures 3" wide by 4-1/4” deep and stands 9-3/4” tall, while its counterpart measures 2-3/4” wide by 4-3/4” deep and stands 9-3/8” tall. They are in very good vintage condition and will display well, but do have some minor issues consistent with their age as discussed in the condition assessment below and as shown in closeup pictures.
In 1937, Urbano Zaccagnini inherited the ceramics business that had been started by his father Ugo Zaccagnini in Sesto Fiorentino, Italy, in 1905. Urbano adopted a sleeker style for the company’s wares based on Art Deco influences and developed an export market. The Zaccagnini mark found on theses figurines, consisting of a “Z” crossed by a squiggly line representing a mountain, was used from 1937 until Urbano left the company in 1958. See less