Handmade figurine of a pair of lovers - Sibania

A porcelain figurine of a pair of lovers sitting on a powder pink bench. She is wearing a yellow and white lace dress and a leather bag. Her hair is styled in a side ponytail. She is dressed in jeans and a cream-colored T-shirt. They have just met, but their hands are almost touching and holding each other as they lean towards one another.

Every item produced by Sibania is absolutely unique both in the craftsmanship of each piece and in the technique used, which is unparalleled and makes imitation difficult. These objects are entirely modeled and hand-painted in our laboratory in the province of Vicenza (Italy). The clothing consists of thin porcelain sheets with printed textures. These sheets are cut according to the dress pattern and then patiently applied to the statue’s torso. Hairstyles for the hair are also sometimes handcrafted. On the “biscuit” terracotta, faces, clothing, and accessories are painted with non-toxic colors; the piece is ultimately subjected to further firing called “third fire.” Any additional details, such as violin strings or stand bases, are added at this stage to the finished piece.

The highest quality porcelain combined with manual craftsmanship and classic designs is the hallmark of the Sibania brand. It is a tribute to true craftsmanship, human dexterity, and the times when handmade products were highly valued. Delicate porcelain dolls are their signature, recognized worldwide. Sibania is an Italian company based in Vicenza. Italian craftsmanship and workshop traditions form the foundation of the brand’s ongoing research into materials and production techniques.

From porcelain paste to production, the entire process is developed 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 porcelain craftsmanship known as Capodimonte, 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 handmade craftsmanship and Italian artisanry as benchmarks.

The brand places great importance on the evolving tradition of craftsmanship, with detailed research into materials, and one of their goals is continuous product innovation with respect for human health: using only non-toxic, lead-free, cadmium-free, and other hazardous substances. After experience with Capodimonte porcelain, it can be proudly stated 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 its own biscuit component models for the most important artisan workshops and porcelain doll manufacturers in Italy. In 1998, the company began producing figurines, small sculptures mainly depicting children. On one hand, continuously recalling the productive finishing and decorating techniques learned from Capodimonte, and on the other, introducing new stylistic and technical methods. The unique and specific techniques used by Sibania, as well as the widespread use of manual skills, allow us to say that their works are truly one of a kind.

These exceptional figurines aim to represent the world— the world of childhood, full of emotions and capable of 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 in creating these sculptures, as the current and modern expression of the company’s work is highly distinctive. These figurines are collectible items, but their expressive power can easily convey care or messages, making them occasionally very meaningful gifts.