Vintage ceramic tiger figurine, striding, brown drip glaze 1950s/60s

This elegant ceramic figure depicts a stalking tiger in a stretched, sweeping pose: the head is slightly raised and alertly directed forward, one front paw set far ahead, the tail curled on the ground. The streamlined modeling, reduced to the essentials, stands in the tradition of Art Deco animal sculpture and was taken up by numerous European ceramic manufacturers during the mid-century period of the 1950s and 60s. On the unglazed, light-fired base, there are two faded, red-violet circular stamps that are no longer legible, which is why we deliberately do not name a specific manufacturer.

Particularly appealing is the glossy running glaze in honey brown, amber, and deep chocolate brown, over which dark, almost black tiger stripes are drawn. On the legs, paws, and chest, the glaze transitions into a finely speckled gray-green, causing the colors to shimmer depending on the light and emphasizing the sculpturally modeled musculature of the body. The ears, nose, and eye area are carefully formed, giving the animal a focused, lively expression.

With its flat, elongated silhouette, the figure is an expressive eye-catcher on a sideboard, mantelpiece, bookshelf, or windowsill and fits into a mid-century interior just as well as a contemporary one. It measures 44 cm in length, 20 cm in height, and 10 cm in depth and is in good condition with slight, minimal glaze abrasion on the cheek.