Glazed ceramic plate, Menelika, Switzerland, circa 1950

Oval plate in glazed earthenware made by the Menelika Art Pottery in Geneva, around 1950. Oval in shape and slightly recessed, it features a dark glaze with a stylised bird decoration in shades of green, yellow, and white. The free treatment of the motif, almost pictorial, fits within Menelika's poetic universe, characterised by a deliberate naivety, lively subjects, and great decorative freedom. Founded in Geneva in 1924 by Hélène Imbert-Amoudruz and Charles Imbert, Menelika Art Pottery contributed to the revival of Swiss ceramics during the interwar period and post-war era. The workshop closed its doors in 1960. Monogrammed under the piece. Switzerland, around 1950.