The recent discovery of part of a circa-1950s Cybis wholesale price list contained a series of single Nativity figures that are entirely different from the 1950s Nativity Murals shown in the studio's published catalogs. This did not come as a complete surprise to me, though, because in 2021 I came across an unfamiliar figurine marked [...]
Because the Cybis studio ultimately ran amok with their ‘Collections’ categories, I think it’s time to create a final and definitive overview of which sculptures – based on logic and reason – are connected to the various holidays and celebrations. I have based this solely on the appearance of the sculpture; the assignments have nothing [...]
In addition to their 1990s series of Twelve Days of Christmas and four 1980s angel ornaments Cybis also produced several holiday themed porcelain bells. One series was designed as a tree ornament and the other series was not. The first in this design genre was the Christmas Bell, originally issued in the 1950s and still [...]
As befits America’s oldest* porcelain art studio, Cybis produced 17 sculptures that celebrated the history and patriotism of the United States. Some were portraits, some were representations of our national bird, and some were giftware items. They appear below in order of retail introduction within each of those categories. Portraits The first Cybis patriotic portrait [...]
In addition to their nativity sets and ornaments Cybis produced some child figurals known as the Holiday Children. Although made from only two basic molds they have been offered as various issues at different times. They were all non-limited editions, 5.25” high. The first was the 1980 Holiday Child who is looking down into a [...]
In 1989 the Cybis Studio introduced an annual holiday ornament series based on The Twelve Days of Christmas. All were non-limited editions. Although I do not know the exact issue prices for all of them, Cybis regularly increased their retail prices across the board. For example, the very first ornament was $175; in 1993 the [...]
After the retirement of their second 1950s nativity set, the Cybis studio did not offer anything in that genre until the 1982 introduction of a new series called The First Christmas. These are entirely different sculptures than the two sets produced during the 1950s and are original designs (not cast from commercial molds.) Three or four [...]
(Update, May 1, 2025: This post has been updated with new information and a revised title.) The Cybis studio produced three entirely different porcelain nativity sets. The first two sets were made during the 1950s and the third set began in the 1980s. This post discusses the second nativity set. In addition to the creche [...]
Here are five Cybis designs in honor of the holiday and moms everywhere. America's First Born (Virginia Dare) is 8" high overall. On August 18, 1587, Virginia Dare became the first baby born on American soil to British parents. She was born on Roanoke Island which was part of the Virginia Colony for which she [...]
Cybis produced a variety of decorative porcelain eggs from the 1950s through the 1980s. All of them were non-limited editions. Egg Boxes The 1971 Cybis in Retrospect exhibit catalog mentions this Egg Box that was produced from the mid-1950s to the early 1960s. It is described there as being 4" high, and this one is [...]
THE CYBIS ARCHIVE 