after a 1923 design by Alexander Matveev, stamped blue factory mark and 1S in Cyrillic (pervyi sort)

Hillwood Museum, no. 22; Pushkin Museum, no. 83

Oda k Radosti/Ode to Joy, p. 126, cat. no. 82; for comparison, see Nosovich and Popova, pp. 332-333; Aleksandr Matveev i ego shkola, St Petersburg, 2005, p. 205, cat. 202; and N. Lobanov-Rostovsky, Revolutionary Ceramics: Soviet Porcelain 1917-1927, London, 1990, cat. no. 109, p. 103.

Excellent condition
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Matveev's series of nudes draw from similar 19th century folk figures from the Gzhel potteries, reimagined through the classicizing simplicity of modernist sculptors such as Aristide Maillol.  This particular design from the series was awarded a Gold Medal at the 1925 Paris Exhibition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes.