Postmodern Sculptural Pop-Art Tea Service by Juraj Mahalik for Art4, Slovakia, 1990s

A striking, surreal-inspired postmodern pottery tea or coffee set from the early 1990s, designed by Juraj Mahalik (Poland) and crafted by art4 ceramics in Slovakia. This unconventional high-quality set includes a tea/coffee pot with a triangular lid, a sugar bowl, and four cups with matching saucers. Each piece was meticulously handmade of ceramic, beautifully decorated, partially gilded and glazed. The multifaceted design of these objects reflects elements of Surrealism, Pop Art, Kitsch and Postmodernism, giving the set a unique artistic expression. Due to the highly detailed and labor-intensive craftsmanship, we believe this is an unique one-of-a-kind set, not a mass-produced item. All pieces are in excellent, undamaged condition and appear to be unused. Some items display fine glaze cracks, which should be seen as a natural sign of age rather than a defect. Between 1972 and 1973 Juraj Mihalík studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, Poland before continuing his education at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava from 1973 to 1979, where he trained under Professor Rudolf Pribiš, a specialist in relief sculpture. After completing his studies, Mihalík created nearly a dozen monumental sculptures in Prešov, Bratislava, and Ostrava between 1979 and 1983. He was introduced to ceramic techniques by his colleague, the sculptor and ceramicist Marián Polonský. Mihalík's works range from Postmodernism to Surrealism, often incorporating playful elements of kitsch. The design draft of this coffee set contains several references to the designers of the Memphis Milano Design Group, including Ettore Sottsass, Michele De Lucchi, Matteo Thun, Nathalie Du Pasquier, and Martine Bedin.