Steuben Animal Figurine Appraisal

Steuben Crystal Upright Duck Figurine

This is a fine art glass sculpture of an upright duck, characteristic of the mid-20th-century modern aesthetic popularized by Steuben Glass Works. The piece is crafted from high-clarity, colorless lead crystal, known for its brilliant refractive index. Standing approximately 8 to 10 inches tall, the figurine features a long, elegant neck curved slightly back with its head tilted upward and beak slightly open. The body is solid and heavy, tapering down to stylized webbed feet. The construction utilizes hand-formed hot glass techniques, resulting in smooth, seamless curves and a polished finish. Notable features include simple circular indentations for the eyes and a distinctively sculpted tail. While no signature is immediately visible in the image, such pieces are typically diamond-point etched 'Steuben' on the base. The condition appears excellent with high transparency and no visible chips or clouding, though minor shelf wear on the bottom surface is expected. The style suggests an origin from the 1940s to 1960s, a period when American glassmakers focused on minimalist, fluid forms that emphasized the purity of the crystal material itself.