Definition:Mortens Studio

Mortens Studio dog figurines were produced in Colorado Springs, Colorado from the early 1940s through the 1960s by Oscar Mortens, a Danish sculptor who trained at Royal Copenhagen before emigrating to America. Mortens pieces are made from wire-reinforced chalkware — a gypsum plaster composition with internal wire armatures that support legs and tails — and hand-painted with remarkable breed accuracy and warmth. Over 300 different dog models were produced across dozens of breeds. Mortens Studio pieces were sold through gift shops and department stores rather than fine china retailers, which means they were actually used and displayed — and consequently, examples in truly excellent condition with crisp original paint and no chips are harder to find than their once-modest prices might suggest. See our guide to Mortens Studio dog figurines for the full story.