Lot 80

Jan Štursa (1880 - 1925) RESTING DANCER

The ceramic model Resting Dancer was likely created in the 1920s based on Štura’s sculptural design from 1913. Female nudity, as a fundamental theme of human freedom and physicality, is one of the most characteristic motifs in Štura’s work—ranging from lyrical delicacy to erotic sensualism. “In this sculpture, Štursa’s compositional artistry reaches its peak; his penchant for arranging a turned torso and sharply angled limbs into a closed yet lively contour is not only characteristic of him personally but also reflects the era’s fondness for sharp angles. Its fundamental theme is essentially the classically conceived theme of human freedom.” (Petr Wittlich – Czech Sculpture of the 20th Century). The model comes from the collection of leading Czech art historians—first V. V. Štech, then Jaromír Neumann—and thus represents a valuable testament to 20th-century collecting culture. Minor defects in the glaze, an old crack on the underside.