Duck Vide-Poche in Ceramic and Brass by Tarzia Firenze, Italy, circa 1970

Among the most distinctive productions of the Florentine decorative workshops of the post-war period, this duck vide-poche by Tarzia Firenze exemplifies the Italian mastery of combining materials to create objects of both sculptural sophistication and domestic usefulness. The piece is modelled as a recumbent duck at rest, its body rendered in warmly toned terracotta ceramic whose entire surface is covered with an extraordinary incised feather pattern — each individual feather lovingly articulated, creating a deeply tactile and visually rich texture that rewards close examination.

The head and elongated neck are cast in brass and given a cool, silvery-green patina that creates a striking chromatic contrast with the warm earth tones of the ceramic body. The beak is slightly open, lending the bird an alert, animated expression that brings the piece to life with quiet wit. The head serves also as the functional element of the vide-poche: it lifts away to reveal the interior receptacle, making the duck equally practical as a desk or dressing-table accessory for rings, keys and small treasured objects.

Tarzia Firenze, the celebrated Florentine atelier, produced works of this kind for the luxury gift and interior decoration market of the 1960s and 1970s — a market that valued the combination of fine craftsmanship, imaginative design and quality materials that the workshop consistently delivered. The signature marks this as an authentic and fully attributed example.

In excellent vintage condition, the ceramic body and brass fittings both well preserved. A delightful and highly decorative object of Italian manufacture.