Duck Vide-Poche in Ceramic and Brass, Tarzia Firenze, Italian Work, circa 1970

This delightful vide-poche takes the form of a swimming duck, one of the most beloved motifs in Italian decorative craftsmanship of the post-war decades. The body is fashioned from ceramic worked to simulate the warm, organic texture of natural wood grain — a clever trompe-l’œil effect that gives the piece an earthy, tactile quality while retaining the smooth, practical surface of fired clay. The head and neck, cast in polished brass, are modelled with confident naturalism: the bill slightly open, the posture alert and lively, the metal contrasting beautifully with the warm brown tones of the ceramic body.

The piece bears the signature of Tarzia Firenze, a celebrated Florentine workshop known for its high-quality decorative objects combining 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 objects that were sold through luxury retailers across Europe and beyond. Their brass and ceramic duck vide-poches became particularly sought-after, prized equally as functional objects and as decorative accents.

The vide-poche — literally “empty pocket” — is a typically French concept that found enthusiastic expression in Italian decorative production: a shallow receptacle placed on a side table, desk, or entrance console to receive keys, coins, cufflinks, or other small personal effects. This duck form, with the hollow of its back serving as the catchall, transforms an everyday 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 feeling heavy-handed.

A fine example of Italian decorative craft at its most characterful, and a worthy representative of the Florentine tradition of the belle époque of design. In very good vintage condition. Dimensions: W. 36.5 × D. 14 × H. 16.5 cm.