Nina Balaban Signed Oval Ceramic Plate

Item Details

A hand painted oval ceramic plate by noted by ‘forgotten’ artist Nina Balaban (Russian/American 1890-1991). The plate depicts two Renaissance couples, interestingly holding each other’s hands; there is a story here. The two women wear flowing gowns with patterned fabric and the two men are in waistcoats with stockings and garters. Each individual wears a hat typical of the time, with flower decoration. They are set against a lush green abstract background, and surrounded by a black and white dotwork pattern of extremely detailed leaf veining. To the top and bottom of the image is a lovely white flower and brown leaf pattern, similar to a dogwood flower. The rest of the plate is finished in cobalt, black and white washed glaze. The plate is signed to the underside in underglaze ‘Nina Balaban’ with her mark. Apparently Nina Balaban what a somewhat notorious personality who lived a ‘colorful’ life in New York City, and was likely the wife of Emanuel Balaban, at one time the conductor of the Rochester Symphony Orchestra. She summered in Woodstock, New York, to paint and sketch, and died in new York at the age of 101. The piece comes with a black wood display stand.

Dimensions

Item #

15CIN463-197