SOVIET PORCELAIN FIGURINE OF A GYMNAST WITH A BALL, DESIGNED BY OLGA PETROVNA TAEZHNAYA (1911-2007), DULEVO PORCELAIN FACTORY, 1959

A young gymnast with chestnut hair, dressed in a yellow jumpsuit with orange accents and matching orange shoes, is being photographed on a green rectangular platform with gold details. She holds a golden ball in both palms, which bears the factory brand, quality mark, and the date "1959" in blue contour glaze. The ball also has an imprint of "28" or "23" in dark green contour glaze. Dimensions: 11.1 x 7.3 x 16.8 cm (4 3/8 x 2 7/8 x 6 5/8 inches). LITERATURE: Ode to Joy / Ode to Joy (Moscow: Pinakoteka, 2008), p. 294, No. 233 (illustrated).