Piotr Dymurski (1911-1979), Birds [6 pieces], 1970s.

Polychrome wood; height approx: 5 cm; not signed.

Provenance: collection of folk art of southern Lesser Poland, built up since the early 1970s.

Piotr Dymurski (1911-1979) was born in Dziewin, Bocheń County, Malopolska Province. He was a shoemaker by profession. He came from a farming family. Disability after a bout of polio caused his assistance on the farm to be limited to herding cattle. While doing this occupation, he began carving at the age of 15. Most often he made figurines of birds, heads of deer or deer for which he had a market in the area. After moving to nearby Grobla in 1935, until the outbreak of war, he carved roadside, cemetery crosses with the image of the Crucified Christ on commission. Until the early 1960s, his main occupation was shoemaking. He began carving again under the influence of a commission to make a sculpture of Christ for a local shrine, to replace a stolen statue. Over time, he began to make other figures - Pieta, patron saints, angels. He also took up themes relating to village life. He also did not give up carving birds, which were eagerly bought as gifts. His sculptures, full of simplicity, despite some workshop flaws - visible tool marks, rough polychrome - are very expressive in their expression. The sculptor was a member of the Association of Folk Artists. His works are in the Ethnographic Museum in Cracow, the Museum in Bochnia, the Agricultural Museum in Szreniawa, and the Ethnographic Museum in Torun. Their artistic qualities have also been appreciated by private collectors, such as Izabella and Piotr Salustowicz.