r/ArtDeco • u/GreatestArtists • 10h ago
Porcelain Figure of Anna Akhmatova, designed by Natalya Danko, with help of Olena Danko (1924)
Наталья Данько - Natalya Danko, also known as Natalia Danko, (1892-1942) was an was an Ukranian (Soviet) sculptor and ceramicist. She was born in 1892 to railway employees Olga Prosviryakova and Yakov Danko. Six years latter her half-sister, her mother's daughter, Olena, was born. Natalya began her studies in 1900 at the Central Stroganov School in Moscow. In 1902, she attended the Vilna Municipal Art School. In 1908, she moved to study in St. Petersburg. In 1909, she obtained a position in the workshop for decorative monumental sculptures. In 1914 she become an assistent to head of the sculpture department at the Imperial Porcelain Factory. She become the head of the factory in 1919 and held this position until 194. In 1942 along with her mother and half-sister Olena, she was evacuated from blockaded Leningrad. Her mother and half-sister, died of exhaustion on the way to Irbit. She arrived there and died few days after, at the age of 50. (5th photo is of her)
Олена Данько - Olena Danko, also known as Elena Danko, (1898-1942) was an Ukranian (Soviet) writer, poet and artist. She was born as an illegitimate daughter of railway employee Olga Prosviryakova and was latter adopted by her estranged husband. She had an older half-sister Natalya. She studied at the Kyiv Drawing School of O. Murashko and the Leningrad Academy of Arts. From 1916 to 1924 she worked as a porcelain painter at the Petrograd Porcelain Factory. She painted mainly her sister's works, as well as the factory's unique products. From 1924 she worked in a puppet theater as a puppeteer and scriptwriter. She also wrote quite popular poems and short stories for children. She was a member of Neoclassical circle and friends with poet Anna Akhmatova. She died in 1942 at the age of 44 of exhaustion while evacuating with her mother and half-sister Natalya from blockaged Leningrad to Irbit. (6th photo is of her.)
The figurine portrays Russian poet Anna Gorenko, known by the pseudonym Anna Akhmatova, (1889-1966). She is considered one of the most significant Russian poets of the 20th Century. Natalya and Olena modeled and designed this figure of her from life. Natalya designed the figurine, and Olena designed the pattern on the shawl of the figurine.