Large Art Deco faience bust from Sarreguemines, early period

Superb and very rare, a large decorative bust in fine earthenware, glazed in creamy white with a finely crackled finish. The modeling is delicate and naturalistic, depicting a curly-haired child with a gentle face, the bust extending to the lower shoulders, possibly evoking a young Greek shepherd or a mythological figure, a frequent theme in sculptural productions of the interwar period. Under the base, the piece bears the mold number 5577, a series referenced by the factory from 1920 and produced until 1935; it is therefore an early model. A very similar model, numbered 5576, depicting a faun, is preserved and cataloged by the Sarreguemines Earthenware Museum, which allows for precise dating of this piece, as the artist remains unknown. Dimensions: 30 cm high, 24 cm at its widest point, approximately 16 cm deep. In very good condition, with a small chip under one edge, invisible once displayed, and a 1 mm chip on the hair on the right side, extremely discreet. An exceptional and very rare piece for discerning collectors. Approximately 1 kg.