Collection Wolfers & Petrucci: Hidden Treasures

Marcel Wolfers
La Périchole, 1923
White crackle glazed ceramic
Dimensions: 59,5 × 32 × 18 cm
Signed: “M Wolfers 1920”, at the back of the sculpture near the base
Provenance:
Marcel Wolfers and Clairette Petrucci collection
Exhibited:
Brussels, Cercle Artistique et Littéraire de
Bruxelles. Exposition Anto Carte, Jean Hendrickx,
Marcel Wolfers, 25/02–04/03/1923, cat. No. 131
Wavre, Histoire Locale. Sculpture. Peinture. Exposition,
Salle Marchal, 02/04–09/04/1949.
As is the case with some other pre-WWII sculptures, Marcel Wolfers had the
bronze executed in ceramic. Due to both nature and subject of the bust, he chose
not to work with the Guérin Pottery, as its salt glazed stoneware would diminish
the grace and subtle modelé of the sculpture. Instead Marcel turned to the
Brussels firm of Céramique de Bruxelles, which executed statuettes and objets
d’art in white ceramic, primarily in art deco style. The glaze is slightly crackled
and although reminiscent of the art deco production of white crackled glazed
figurines, this bust clearly stands its ground as an autonomous work of art.
Executed in 1923 and another in 1926, it seems that only two casts were made
with in white crackled ceramics. A third bisquit fired cast, that was subsequently
covered with gold leaves by the artist, surfaced onto the Brussels art market
around 1980.
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