Posted 12 years ago
MattyFoto
(5 items)
So I just found this at an estate cleanout sale. It's a painted tile or possibly stone in a custom made shadow box frame (the blue tray in the photos). Framed probably in the late 50's or 60's based on the style. The painted piece itself is maybe 10in long by 6 in high and 1 inch thick. The back of it, from what I can see with a mirror is bright white and it really looks like stone. Heavy crazing, and one long crack on the right that looks like it was repaired with a clear compound that has a pinkish color in places (could just be the color of the stone?).
I have no idea on this one. My thinking or rather hope is that it's legitimate period piece. Can't imagine why anyone would have it framed like this if it weren't. I say it's custom framed because I can see pencil marks used by the framer but I could be wrong of course. Nails holding the piece into the center box are older and rusted. I know that can be faked but they are hard to see without a mirror.
Any help is appreciated. My google searching has come up completely short. I can't find anything that looks like it in terms of the style of the man and the style of the animals. If you can suggest another website that might help then that would be appreciated.
I'm just going to throw some ideas out there for you to consider.
First, I think the piece dates from the 1960s or 1970s. It is probably ceramic. I think it was created in Israel. The subject is David the Shepard.
The tile is "crazed" , meaning that the glaze did not fit the clay exactly, it shrank more than the clay base. "Modern" ceramic artists do this intentionally to make the piece look older. It is not a matter of fakery, rather it is an artistic decision.
If I were you, I would be searching for Ceramic artists from Israel, people who used Biblical imagery.
I know this seems rather vague, but I hope you can start your search and get some answers.
Good luck
Thanks that is helpful. Will start looking into it. Any other suggestions welcome.
Oh also with regards to the crazing, I looked closer. I don't think it's crazed in the traditional sense of the glaze being cracked. It looks like the piece is actually cracked all over, through the glaze into the ceramic or stone.