Children on Sled Figurine
Decorative ceramic sculpture, mass-market figurine • Likely mass-produced in Japan or Germany (e.g., in the style of Goebel or Lefton)
Style & Movement
Mid-Century Kitsch / Americana / Kawaii-precursor commercial art
Medium & Technique
Glazed ceramic, likely slip-cast earthenware with hand-applied cold paint and glaze details
Creation Period
Mid-20th Century, approximately 1950s-1970s
Dimensions & Format
Presumed small scale (approx. 4-6 inches in height); three-dimensional figurine format
Subject Description
A nostalgic winter scene depicting two children, a blonde girl and a companion, sitting on a wooden-style sled. They are wearing winter coats, scarves, and hats, rendered with a simplified, sentimental aesthetic often associated with holiday decor.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair; notable structural damage and paint loss
Estimated Market Value
$5.00 - $15.00 USD (in current condition)
Auction Estimate
$2.00 - $10.00 USD
Provenance History
Likely a household decorative item, commonly sold in department stores or gift shops; no specific labels visible in the image
Art Historical Significance
Represents the post-WWII boom in affordable, mass-produced ceramic giftware characterized by saccharine depictions of childhood and domestic life. While not a unique work of fine art, it is a cultural artifact of 20th-century consumerism.
Notable Features
Features typical 'doe-eye' painting style of 1950s giftware; the broken scarf element suggests a fragile protrusion common in these types of figurines.
Condition Issues
Significant breakage: the scarf element appears snapped or detached. Visible paint flaking and chipping on the gloves and sled edges. Surface dirt and potential crazing in the glaze.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional restoration is not cost-effective. Home repair with ceramic adhesive could reattach the broken segment. Display away from direct sunlight to prevent further cold-paint fading.