Pair of vintage studio ceramic hippos, brown & cream oxide glaze, 14.5 cm, 1970s

This pair consisting of a large and a small hippopotamus is an endearing example of vintage studio ceramics from the 1970s. Both figures are hand-built from clay slabs and freely modeled: the rounded bodies rest on short, sturdy legs, the ears are attached as small, upright clay tabs, the eyes and nostrils are pierced, and the wide smile is incised as a fine cut into the mouth. There is no signature or workshop mark on the bottom, which is why we deliberately do not attribute the figures to a specific ceramist; the style and surface are consistent with European workshop ceramics of that period.

The matte surface is enlivened by an oxide glaze in rust, caramel, and sand-brown, which has been rubbed over the light, cream-white clay, allowing the body to show through at the edges, folds, and feet. Incised lines on the forehead and neck suggest skin folds and give the animals depth and expression. The large hippopotamus is open at the bottom, the small one is closed; thanks to the matching glaze and modeling, both appear as a mother with her young.

Together, the figures form a cheerful ensemble for a shelf, sideboard, windowsill, or children's room and suit a mid-century interior just as well as a natural, contemporary decor. The large hippopotamus measures 14.5 cm in length, 8 cm in depth, and 8.5 cm in height; the small one measures 8 cm in length, 4 cm in depth, and 4.5 cm in height. Both are in very good condition.