Overview

This is a set of three terracotta figures depicting elderly Romanian villagers, attributed to Romanian folk ceramicist Nicolae Diaconu of Brasov. Diaconu, active since 1979, is known for a distinctive freestanding construction — his figures stand on their own two feet rather than a molded ceramic base — and for hand-modeling traditional opinci-style wrapped footwear on every piece, both features present across all three figures here. The standing bearded man carries a clear pre-firing inscription reading “ROMANIA Brasov, 19 XII 2000”; the standing woman carries a fainter maker’s mark in the same style and material. The date aligns directly with Craft World Tours’ documented “Romania: Maramures Winter Festival” tour, December 2000-January 2001.

Design & Craftsmanship

Function & Form: Three figures — a standing elderly woman in a dark headscarf holding a shallow clay bowl; a seated elderly woman in a white underscarf and black shawl, seated on a wood-stump base; and a standing bearded elderly man in a tan coat with a dark woven sash. Each approximately 11″H x 6.5″W.
Artistry & Ornamentation: Hand-built terracotta with individually modeled, deeply expressive wrinkled faces and naturalistic hands; earth-tone painted garments in tan, white, and black; traditional wrapped opinci-style footwear hand-formed on each figure.
Structural Base: Freestanding on integrally modeled feet (no separate base), consistent with Diaconu’s signature technique; the seated figure rests on an attached wood-stump element.

Condition Report

Surface Condition: Age-appropriate wear to painted surfaces; no significant losses to painted decoration on any of the three figures.
Structural Integrity: All three figures are structurally stable and intact. This item is sold “as-is” with all associated patina and wear inherent to its age and history as part of the Craft World Tours Collection.

Nicolae Diaconu

Romanian Folk Art Terracotta Figures, Set of 3, Signed & Dated 2000, Attributed to Nicolae Diaconu