Knud Kyhn ceramic bear

This ceramic sculpture, model no. 20155, was designed by Danish sculptor Knud Kyhn and produced by Royal Copenhagen in Denmark during the 1950s. It depicts a bear captured in mid-stride, skillfully balancing stylization with expressive form to convey both motion and mass.

The sculpture’s surface is richly glazed in a mottled palette of earthy browns, moss greens, ochres, and cream tones, featuring a subtle gloss that accentuates the organic texture and naturalistic depth. The glaze varies across the form, with denser spotting over the shoulders and haunches contrasting with smoother areas on the underbelly and snout, enhancing the tactile and visual complexity.

The bear’s form is compact and muscular, with short, sturdy legs and a lowered head that reinforce the sense of power and forward motion. Kyhn’s modeling is restrained yet expressive, reflecting his nuanced sensitivity to both volume and surface detail.

Marked on the underside with the Royal Copenhagen factory stamp, model number 20155, and the iconic Danish wave mark, the piece also bears Kyhn’s impressed monogram, confirming his authorship.

Knud Kyhn (1880–1969) was a renowned Danish sculptor and painter noted for his stoneware animal figures. His collaboration with Royal Copenhagen was significant throughout the 20th century, producing pieces distinguished by earthy glazes and robust sculptural forms that combine vitality with character.

Royal Copenhagen, established in 1775, is one of Denmark’s oldest and most esteemed porcelain manufacturers. The mid-20th century was a prolific period for the factory’s artistic stoneware line, working alongside notable artists such as Kyhn, Nils Thorsson, and Axel Salto, marking a golden age of Nordic ceramic art.

This piece embodies mid-century Scandinavian style through its fusion of naturalistic subject matter and modernist abstraction, representing the post-war Nordic ceramic tradition’s emphasis on craftsmanship, form, and evocative glaze.

The sculpture measures 18 cm wide, 8 cm deep, and 14 cm high (approximately 7.1 x 3.1 x 5.5 inches) and is in excellent condition with no visible chips, cracks, or repairs, and an intact, evenly distributed glaze.