Posted 7 years ago
CutZy
(1 item)
This is my first time here at Collectors Weekly. I just purchased the beautiful, 8" x 8"pristine porcelain statue"Ballerina" by Oksana Zhnikrup (1931-1993) of the Kiev Experimental Ceramic-Art Factory. Ukrainians are up in arms over Jeff Koons's appropriation of their highly regarded porcelain sculptor in his latest balloon statue at Rockefeller Center, and a copy of this figurine. Koons has the license to use the statue, but not to copy it and imply that it is his design. The country is thinking of suing him for copyright infringement. I bought this gorgeous piece because of its notoriety, yes, but also because, as a fine artist myself I can spot a great work of art immediately. I adore the piece, and was thrilled when I unwrapped it and saw how gleamingly luscious it is. It is stamped (on the botton) 8 (or "S" - can't tell) - followed by the number thirty and 85 as well. There is also a red square containing a Cyrillic "K." I was assured by the sender that it is authentic. It was sent from Russia. It is so beautiful, I can't imagine that it is not. I looked up a few purporting to be this statue, but they could not be. They are lumpy and ugly. It has to be very pretty or Koons would not have swooned over it as I have. I wonder what its value is. Can anyone tell me how to find out?
Welcome to CW and what a gorgeous piece ! I would see if you can find a few completed sales like one Ebay or some site Ruby Lane ect and see what they sold for . Good luck and nice to have you join us here .
Thank you, Manikin. Truly appreciate your nice comments and feedback. I have not found any sales for pieces like this on ebay. Nothing as beautiful or as valuable, from what I can see. But I will try Ruby Lane, which I have not heard of until now. Something tells me I've just acquired a new hobby!
Is this mark like one on your girl ? It shows mark on lat photo yhe 5th picture
https://www.etsy.com/listing/465120761/vintage-ballerina-figurine-ballet-dancer?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=ballerina%20figurine&ref=sr_gallery_2
Hmm. Thank you, Manikin! I checked it out. Seems to be "authentic" and has a similar marking on the bottom...may have been made a bit earlier or later. But there are distinct differences in the statue itself. Mine is very smooth and elongated, whereas the one now being shown on Etsy is a bit less "elegant," shall we say. Still, it may be the actual original or a different one. I can't imagine that Jeff Koons would have seen that one and found it to his taste. It's a little too squat and unrefined. But: I don't think people selling it have any idea of its meaning currently, or they would have mentioned it in their advertising. Even the one I bought - no mention of its new historical relevance. I am tempted to buy the other one, too, however. Have you had experiences like this? Where you found other, similar but slightly different versions of pieces you thought might be valuable?
Yes I have seen variations in items and have bought both :-) I agree yours seems to have more a translucent porcelain to my eye . Seller is in Ukraine so one would think it was Russian ? The one I shared link to . Curiosity stirs and makes the story more interesting doesn't it ? :-)
Thanks for that, Manikin. I believe that many of her works have been funneled through Russia, though she is a Ukrainian artist. She may have lived in Russia or Russia was instrumental in helping her artist collective and did some of their distribution. Mine does have a very translucent porcelain. There is a refined quality about it that the other doesn't seem to possess, and I think it was an extremely haute fine art collective that she belonged to so everything would have to be quite polished to represent the group. Is translucence one of the things that makes porcelain more valuable?
Great info there Manikin, interesting discussion.
She is absolutely beautiful CutZy.
When the porcelain is made from it can be different quality depending on what they used to make it and the higher quality seems to have a more translucent color in my opinion . Some porcelain is actually rougher in texture and has a thicker look. Hard to explain but I see it in antique dolls all the time .Called )Porcelain is called Bisque in dolls as it has a matte finish but still has translucent look in high quality
Hi all, I recently purchased a version of this ballerina from Russia, but the colors are different. She's on a dark green cushion and wears a pearl grey tutu, shoes and headband. Stamped on the bottom there is also a red square containing a Cyrillic "K."like you mentioned, the number 54, IC, and 10-50. Any info on this model?
So pleased to see the many comments here about my piece. Hey, this is fun! It's my first time out as a collector, though I do have a Delft plate I think I will run by you guys as well. Irmix, I really don't know if they are by the same artist, but it sounds like it might be from the same gallery/factory. I do feel that the value of my piece also hinges on the Jeff Koons art scandal, however. I can't imagine it wouldn't have value under those circumstances. Someone said that if Koons was not sued and allowed to keep the statue up, then it would not be as valuable, but I disagree. I think this kerfuffle will go down in art history and taints Koons's reputation because there was such a hue and cry about it. In other words, it's definitely a moment in art history, and that statue is massive - in of all places Rockefeller Center, so, in a sense, that figurine is now in the center of the planet on a cultural level.