Rigoletto And Quasimodo Pair Of Italian Sculptures Grotesque Caricature Figurine 1950s

Pair of Grotesque Caricature Figurines of the first half of 20th century. Pair of Grotesque Caricature figurines of the first half of 20th century. One figurine depicting Rigoletto, the deformed jester from the famous Verdi opera with the famous aria La donna è mobile. The standing sculpture is made of patinated plaster and engraved on the square base RIGOLETTO. The other figure represents Quasimodo, the main protagonist of the novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo. A deformed  and quite suffering character : the hump, the leek on the forehead, the aching posture and the anguished expression of the face are the elements of a characteristic physiognomic repertoire of popular and grotesque  caricature figurines  in Europe.
On the back of the base of the Rigoletto we find the initials MDPS probably referring to the manufacturer. 
With a lovely patina, both sculptures are realized in pastiglia, decorated in brown and ivory tones.  Good condition, signs of wear and use, minimal scratchers of the dark patina. Measures: Height: 27 cm - width: 14.5 cm - depth: 12.5 cm.