Ceramic and Brass Duck Catchall, Tarzia Firenze, Italian Work,

This charming catchall takes the form of a swimming duck, one of the most beloved motifs of Italian decorative craftsmanship from the post-war decades. The body is shaped from crafted ceramic to simulate the warm, organic texture of natural wood grain — a skillful trompe-l'œil effect that gives the piece an earthy and tactile quality while maintaining the smooth, functional surface of fired clay. The head and neck, cast in polished brass, are modelled with assured naturalism: the slightly open beak, the alert and lively posture, the metal contrasting beautifully with the warm brown tones of the ceramic body. The piece bears the signature of Tarzia Firenze, a Florentine workshop renowned for its quality decorative objects that combine traditional Tuscan craftsmanship with mid-century design sensibility. Florence has long been a centre of excellence in the decorative arts, and Tarzia was among the workshops that upheld this reputation in the 1960s and 1970s, producing items sold at luxury retailers across Europe and beyond. Their brass and ceramic duck catchalls became particularly sought after, valued both as functional objects and decorative accents. The catchall — a typically French concept — found an enthusiastic expression in Italian decorative production: a shallow container placed on a side table, desk, or entry console to hold keys, coins, cufflinks, or other small personal effects. This duck shape, with the hollow of its back serving as a receptacle, transforms a daily domestic need into a moment of wit and elegance. The generous dimensions — nearly 37 cm in length — give the piece a substantial presence without ever veering into heaviness. A beautiful example of Italian decorative craftsmanship at its most characteristic, and a worthy representative of the tradition.