Art Deco Style Sage Figurine by Canto, 1960s

Details

Description

A unique, expressively crafted figurine depicting a bearded sage, rendered in the Art Deco / Modernist style of the first … Read more A unique, expressively crafted figurine depicting a bearded sage, rendered in the Art Deco / Modernist style of the first half of the 20th century.

The figure is made of a hard mineral compound, with a decorative brown-and-gold surface finish. The material is heavy, dense, and cold to the touch, and a characteristic light-colored mineral structure is visible on the underside and in areas where the material is worn away.

On the base is a handwritten signature reading “Canto.” This signature is particularly interesting in the context of the Portuguese sculptor Ernesto Canto da Maya (1890–1981), whose body of work included, among other things, sculptures made of mineral compounds, ceramics, and works with surfaces imitating bronze. However, the authorship of the figure presented here has not been confirmed and remains a matter of attribution.

The figure has a very distinctive, stylized form: an elongated silhouette, a strongly accentuated face, a long beard, and geometrically rendered robes. The surface bears natural signs of age, scuffs, and minor surface losses, which emphasize the object’s character.

Condition: good for its age, with visible signs of use, scuffs, and minor surface losses. No conservation interventions.

Material: mineral compound / mineral composite
Signature: “Canto”
Date: probably the first half of the 20th century
Style: Art Deco / Modernism See less