Overview
A graceful semi-porcelain devotional figurine featuring the signature 'Florence' aesthetic of elongated lines and delicate hand-painted features.
Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
A graceful semi-porcelain devotional figurine featuring the signature 'Florence' aesthetic of elongated lines and delicate hand-painted features.
Story
Pasadena, California, became the unlikely heart of American decorative arts in the 1940s, as a community of 'garage potters' transformed the local industry.
Maker / Origin
Florence Ward was a self-taught artist who turned a personal hobby into a powerhouse of California design, eventually employing over 100 people in her Pasadena studio.
Condition & Value
The figurine appears to be in excellent vintage condition with no visible chips to the vulnerable fingertips or the edges of the veil. There is no significant 'rubbing' or loss to the gold luster, which often wears away with over-cleaning. Excellent condition like this is preferred by collectors.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Regional auction
· Jun 2024Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
$1,280
Dealer archive
· Mar 2024Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
$1,450
Marketplace sale
· Jan 2024Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
$980
Estate platform
· Oct 2023Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
$1,150
Auction result
· Aug 2023Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.
$1,375