The existence of some circa-1940s pieces that are dual-marked M.B. Cybis and also have the vertical monogram MC strongly suggests that the MC actually meant “Marja Cybis herself made this item.” This post collects all of the MC–marked pieces so far discovered; they are typically a sub-set of those that are marked M.B. Cybis, which have their own Archive post. A few of the MC items are also physically dated.
We start small (very small!) with two little early-1940s fairies made of papka.
This teeny-tiny papka fairy is barely 2.5” tall. Its very small footprint only allows for the application of a simple MC in white paint.
Here are two more examples of these tiny whimsical papka fairies. Both have the MC monogram on the underside. The one on the left is 2 1/4″ tall, and the one on the right is 2.5″ tall. Hairstyle does make a difference! :-)
Slightly taller is this small papka fairy who is just under 4”. If it wasn’t for the Hershey’s-kiss-shaped hat, I’d say she might be an angel. She holds a flower in her right hand; sadly, her left arm is broken off. Her monogram appears to be in dark brown paint. Additional views of these are in their own Archive post.
However, this version of the same piece does not wear a hat, and so I’m going to assume that she is a papka angel with flower. The lack of a hat means that she is slightly shorter, at 3 5/8″ tall. Unlike the fairy version, this one’s underside is painted and looks as if it is lightly glazed as well.
This papka angel bust was among the 2019 studio liquidation auction lots but her size wasn’t specified. Here we see the MC monogram over just the name Cybis instead of the full M.B. Cybis (even though there is plenty of room for that.) She, too, has her own Archive post.
This papka horse and tree is triply marked on the underside: The MC monogram is above M.B. Cybis, and the year 1940 (the first year of the studio) is below those. It is unfortunate that the papka is so heavily crazed.
A Violinist angel from the Angelic Orchestra with the MC monogram in white paint. Notice that on most of these examples there is a small period (.) following the C. We also see the same thing on many – but not all – of the pieces that are marked M.B. Cybis, regardless of whether it also has the MC monogram.
A different Angelic Violinist, in darker colors. This one is painted green on the underside and is signed and dated in white. The MC, the M.B. Cybis, and the 1940 all have a period following them.
I must say that I’ve never seen that format on anything else, whether Cybis or not. What could be the purpose? A period (aka ‘full stop’) after an abbreviated name (the M and B in M.B. Cybis), sure. But why put them in the other locations? The retired copyeditor in me is baffled and somewhat annoyed by this.
Yet another rich-color Violinist, marked in the same manner. Notice that this angel is crying, and remember that Marja’s homeland was being torn apart by war when she created these.
Here we have a French Horn Player that has the monogram, a date, and her full name! This begs the question: Why not M.B. Cybis this time? Does it mean that Maria (the spelling she switched to at some point after they settled here) created this one entirely herself whereas M.B. means “Maria and Boleslaw”??
We are back to the usual duo on the underside of this Angelic Mandolinist. All of the Angelic Orchestra pieces, including ones not shown here, are in their own post.
This primitive style bird-on-branch showed up a few years ago and, to be honest, I thought the ‘melty’ appearance of the branch had been a kiln accident! It is marked MC on the underside. However, just recently I was alerted to a second example that is not marked but is almost identical…showing that the branch appearance was indeed intentional. See the Early Birds post for the two compared.
An old (2011) eBay listing snapshot shows an 11.5” diameter Mosaic Plaque of Jesus. A handwritten notation on the back of the frame says M. Cybis 1946 and USA. The framing is probably newer than the 1940s and so the notation could easily date from that later time period and be anecdotal. It’s too bad that the back of the plaque is not visible. The plaque appears to be made of irregular pieces of porcelain joined with lead solder and then painted.
Another 2011 listing described this elderly Chinese man as being signed MC and 5064 (a Cordey design number range, which corresponds to the overall style of this piece) underneath. He is 6.25” tall. This piece and the Mosaic Jesus Plaque are the only two MC-marked items that I have so far found that are porcelain rather than papka, but they do prove that Marja/Maria created items in both media.
Name Index of Cybis Sculptures
Visual Index (for human figures/busts only)
About the Cybis Reference Archive
What is Cybis?
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The Cybis Archive is a continually-updated website that provides the most comprehensive range of information about Cybis within a single source. It is not and never has been part of the Cybis Porcelain studio, which is no longer in business.
THE CYBIS ARCHIVE 