Figurine, Boy & Girl on Sled, Porcelana de Cuernavaca, Paul Sebastian, Pastel Porcelain, Mexico, Vintage 1980s

Two children on a sled, soft pastel blues and warm beige, the whole scene rendered in the kind of quiet, pleasing porcelain that makes you slow down and look twice. It's stamped on the bottom with the PS logo for Paul Sebastian and the Porcelana de Cuernavaca, Mexico mark, and retains its original "Made in Mexico" paper label. A "1992" appears on the bottom as well — possibly the year, possibly a style number; either way it adds to the charm. Neither company is in business today, which makes pieces like this all the more worth keeping.

The Paul Sebastian design house was founded by Leonard Paul Cuozzo and Alan Sebastian Greco of New Jersey — the brand name a combination of their middle names. They launched with a cologne in 1979, expanded into giftware in 1983, and built a reputation for fine porcelain pieces that became their signature. The company went international in 1989 and was eventually sold to FFI Fragrances in 1999, later acquired by Elizabeth Arden.

Porcelana de Cuernavaca was founded in 1950 by Jorge Alberto Borbolla Villamil, a chemist who left Coca-Cola to pursue ceramics with his wife and brother in Cuernavaca, Mexico. By 1967 the business had grown enough that he devoted himself to it full time, building a state-of-the-art workshop in 1970. Labor conflicts closed the company by the 1980s. Jorge passed away in 2016.

A beautiful winter or Christmas vignette piece, a bookshelf treasure, or a gift for a figurine collector who appreciates a good story behind the piece.

• Maker: Porcelana de Cuernavaca, imported by Paul Sebastian Inc., Made in Mexico
• Era: 1980s (1992 marked on bottom — year or style number unclear)
• Material: Porcelain, hand painted
• Dimensions: 6.25" tall × 6.25" long × 3.375" wide
• Condition: Excellent vintage. No chips, cracks, or scratches. All sales final.