Hand Sculpted Ceramic Bluebird, Signed carved ebony hair comb This "bowl of treasures" design

This "bowl of treasures" design apparently first appeared in the 16th century

but I rather like the directness of the brush without it

This varnished box has a wonderfully rich patina

This piece

Hand Sculpted Ceramic Bluebird, Signed carved ebony hair comb This "bowl of treasures" designI haven't been able to find out much of anything about this wonderful little baby bluebird, which I found at the estate sale of an actress and philanthropist in Brookline, MA, whose many fine and interesting things reinforce my believe that this is something pretty special! It bears some resemblance to the birds produced by Stangl Pottery in the mid 20th century, but I think is much better far looser (it looks positively abstract from certain angles),