{"title":"Barsony Ceramics (Australia)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBarsony Ceramics\u003c\/strong\u003e was an Australian decorative-ceramics business established by George and Jean Barsony in Sydney in the mid-1950s. Best remembered for matt-black figural lamps and ornaments, its output also included candlesticks, bookends, wall hangings, ashtrays, vases and bowls.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeorge was a Hungarian-trained sculptor who arrived in Australia as a refugee in 1949. Jean, who had emigrated from England, was already working in a Sydney pottery when they met. Their partnership brought together his sculptural background and her practical experience of the ceramics industry, making the business a joint undertaking rather than the work of George alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe couple established a workshop at their Bankstown home around 1955, before moving to dedicated premises in Guernsey Street, Guildford, in 1956. The Guildford workshop operated until 1970. Ceramic production then ceased, but the family company continued making lampshades until 2005, an important distinction between the history of the pottery and the longer life of the business.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeorge’s sculptural training informed a range of stylised figures and decorative forms. Subjects included dancers, ballerinas and bathing figures, with figural lamps becoming particularly associated with the Barsony name. Matt black was a defining finish, but the wider range should not be reduced to that colour or to lamps alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlongside the Barsony name, the company also produced ceramics under the \u003cem\u003eSilver Cloud\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eVenice\u003c\/em\u003e labels. These names belong within the broader history of the business, although a label or a general resemblance should still be considered alongside the form and other evidence when identifying a piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSurviving Barsony pieces may carry a maker’s name, a paper label or a combination of letters and model numbers. Published explanations of some letter prefixes differ, so these codes are best treated as identification clues rather than proof of authenticity on their own. A documented model, surviving marks and provenance provide a firmer basis than a matt-black finish or a model number in isolation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRead more in Design and Art Australia Online’s biography \u003c\/em\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.daao.org.au\/bio\/george-julius-barsony\/\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ehere\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cem\u003e, explore the company history \u003c\/em\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/learnantiques.com.au\/barsony-lamps-lighting-device-revamped\/\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ehere\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cem\u003e, and consult Carter’s Barsony reference \u003c\/em\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.carters.com.au\/index.cfm\/index\/128-barsony-australia-ceramics\/\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ehere\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cem\u003e.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"barsony-ceramics-australia-18-table-lamp-ballerina-in-pink","title":"Barsony Ceramics (Australia) 18\" Table Lamp, 'Ballerina' in Pink *RARE FIND*","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eModel\u003c\/strong\u003e #FL-36, Figural Lamp - Ballerina, in Pink\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e 45cm (18\") tall\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e Great to excellent condition, with very little surface wear. No chips, no cracks. Some light scuffs, as per the pictures. Jewels are missing from the reverse side of the ballerina outfit. Shade is original, so we're led to believe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt has been professionally rewired with a new cable to meet Australian electrical standards.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Barsony Ceramics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46703878930599,"sku":null,"price":0.87,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0405\/5839\/5559\/files\/temp_2877d5a9-7f04-4977-91c5-76bab64d231d.jpg?v=1744000331"},{"product_id":"barsony-ceramics-australia-27-5-table-lamp-bikini-girl-in-red","title":"Barsony Ceramics (Australia) 27.5\" Table Lamp, 'Bikini Girl' in Red *RARE FIND*","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eModel\u003c\/strong\u003e #FL-51, Figural Lamp - Bikini Girl, in Red\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e 70cm (27.5\") tall\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e Great to excellent condition, with very little surface wear. No chips, no cracks. Some light scuffs, as per the pictures. Includes the original teardrop pearl earrings. Shade is new, made in the style of the original.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt has been professionally rewired with a new cable to meet Australian electrical standards.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Barsony Ceramics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50853491769511,"sku":null,"price":2175.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0405\/5839\/5559\/files\/temp_04a33908-ca25-4777-b6bc-f9c2cd27e2f0.jpg?v=1780907611"}],"url":"https:\/\/thatretropiece.com\/collections\/barsony-ceramics.oembed","provider":"That Retro Piece","version":"1.0","type":"link"}