Antique Zsolnay Pecs Duck Bonbonniere 4235 Reticulated cir 1890 Austria-Hungary For Sale

Antique Zsolnay Pécs Reticulated Duck Bonbonnière / Covered Vessel – Form No. 4235 – Circa 1890 – Austria-HungaryA rare and highly decorative antique figural bonbonnière produced by the Zsolnay factory of Pécs, Hungary, dating to approximately 1890.This unusual piece is modeled as a duck and features elaborate pierced/reticulated decoration, hand-painted floral and ornamental details, pastel green, pink, cream and ochre coloration, and gilt accents. The removable pierced cover forms the back of the bird, making the piece both a figural decorative object and a functional covered bonbonnière or sweetmeat vessel.The underside bears period Zsolnay Pécs / Made in Austria-Hungaria markings along with impressed/manufacturing numbers. The model has been identified as Zsolnay Form No. 4235.HISTORICAL / sale REFERENCEAn example of this exact Zsolnay Form 4235 is documented in the Darabanth/Axioart sale archives.Darabanth sale House, 338th Quick sale, January 24, 2019, Lot 11210, catalogued the form as:“cca 1890 Zsolnay kacsa figurás bonbonier, áttört kézzel festett porcelán fajansz… formaszám: 4235.”Translated, the catalog identifies it as a circa-1890 Zsolnay duck-form bonbonnière in pierced/reticulated, hand-painted porcelain-faience, Form No. 4235. The archived example measured approximately 16 × 17 cm and was noted as having worn gilding. For additional market context, a related antique Zsolnay Pécs reticulated bird vessel, Form No. 4233, measuring 22.5 cm high, was offered by Eastbourne sales on January 11, 2019, Lot 558, where it achieved a £140 hammer price. This is a different Zsolnay bird form without its lid and is included only as a related period market reference. CONDITIONGood antique condition for a highly intricate piece dating to approximately 1890. There is extensive age-related glaze crazing as expected, along with wear/loss to portions of the gilt decoration.There is a chip/loss to a feather detail at the rear of the head, which is photographed and should be reviewed carefully.Importantly, the removable reticulated cover/lid is present. The delicate pierced decoration appears remarkably well preserved overall considering the age and complexity of the form.Please examine all photographs closely, as they form an important part of the condition description. Any antique ceramic of this age may exhibit additional minor manufacturing irregularities, glaze variations, surface wear or other evidence of age.DETAILSMaker: Zsolnay
Factory: Pécs, Hungary
Form / Model: 4235
Date: Circa 1890
Period: Austro-Hungarian Empire
Material: Hand-painted porcelain-faience / ceramic
Form: Figural duck bonbonnière / covered vessel
Decoration: Pierced/reticulated body with hand-painted floral ornament and gilding
Markings: Zsolnay Pécs / Made in Austria-Hungaria and production/decorator markings
Original removable reticulated cover presentA particularly unusual surviving example of late-19th-century Zsolnay production and a documented historic factory form.