Arthur Craco Unique Piece Umbrella Stand

Superb umbrella stand, unique piece by Arthur Craco, master of Belgian ceramics. After working with wood, stone and ivory, he worked as a sculptor with a "fluid" material. He first produced masks, then animals: dogs, cats, couteux, parrots, roosters, and wax vases in enamelled stoneware of various kinds. Arthur Craco is thus one of the main renovators of ceramic art in Belgium, fiercely determined to give it a major place in the decorative arts. He brilliantly combines his talents as a sculptor and ceramist, both for everyday objects, similar to those created by Alfred Finch from 1895, and for works sculpted in stoneware or enamelled terracotta. He also created monumental pieces such as the Chimera Fountain for the park of the Andenelle castle, the Pheasant Fountain and the Cat Fountain. This last work was presented at the 1935 Brussels World's Fair, at the same time as a large group of seventeen figures. There are a few small chips on the base, which is practically untouched when the Ceramic is on the ground.