A boy playing the bandoneon - Sibania

Porcelain figurine playing the bandoneon, an instrument typical of Argentine tango. It wears a brown and white Scottish jacket over a red sweater, houndstooth brown boxers, a red and black striped scarf, and a nearly sack-shaped brown and white houndstooth cap. It sits on a blue marble-effect balustrade next to its good friend Grande Jazz. Like him, it is one of the founders of the Sweet Swing Band, the official jazz band of Sibania.

Every item produced by Sibania is absolutely unique both in the craftsmanship of each piece and in the technique used, which is unrivaled and difficult to imitate. These items are entirely modeled and hand-painted in our laboratory in Vicenza Province (Italy). The clothing consists of thin porcelain sheets printed with textures. These sheets are cut according to the dress pattern and then patiently applied to the sculpture’s body. Hairstyles are also occasionally crafted by hand. Faces, clothing, and accessories are painted with non-toxic colors on the “bisque” terracotta; the piece is finally subjected to a further firing process called “third fire.” Additional details, such as violin strings or stands, are added at this stage to the finished piece.

The highest quality porcelain material combined with handwork and original designs gives Sibania its signature. It is a tribute to true craftsmanship, human dexterity, and the times when handmade was a valued commodity. The exquisite porcelain dolls they create are their hallmark, now recognized worldwide. Sibania is an Italian company based in Vicenza. Italian craftsmanship and the tradition of artisan workshops underpin the company’s ongoing research into materials and production techniques.

From porcelain paste to production, the entire process is developed entirely in workshops in Isola Vicentina, where skilled artisans, designers, and painters meticulously refine each figurine and give each face its own expression. Inspired by the stylistic and technical features of traditional craftsmanship of the so-called Capodimonte porcelain, Sibania has been producing porcelain since 1980. Building on this tradition, characterized by exceptional manual skills, the company strives to introduce continuous innovations while maintaining handcrafted techniques and Italian craftsmanship as benchmarks.

The brand places great importance on the evolving tradition of the artisan workshop, with detailed research into materials, and one of their goals is continuous product innovation with a focus on human health: using only non-toxic, lead-free, cadmium-free, and other hazardous substances. Based on experience with Capodimonte porcelain, it can be proudly said that since the mid-1980s, Sibania has been a leading company in the production of porcelain dolls. Indeed, since the 1980s, production has been based on proprietary bisque component models for major artisan workshops and porcelain doll manufacturers in Italy. In 1998, the company began producing figurines, small sculptures mainly depicting children. On one hand, they continuously draw on the finishing and decorating techniques learned from Capodimonte, and on the other, they introduce new stylistic and technical methods. The unique and specific techniques used by Sibania, along with their widespread manual skills, make their work truly one of a kind.

These exceptional figurines aim to represent the world, the world of childhood—full of emotions and evoking feelings in those who encounter them; believing that the purity of porcelain makes it the most suitable material for artistically depicting childhood innocence and purity. Traditional techniques serve as a starting point for more innovative and contemporary representations, as the current and modern expression of the company’s work is particularly distinctive. These figurines are collectible items, but their expressive power can easily convey care or messages, making them occasionally very meaningful gifts.