Stoneware Animal Sculptures

Knud Basse, Bornholm, Denmark. Stoneware Bird Figure, 1960s. Rare stoneware bird figure with the characteristic organic form and deep, nuanced glaze typical of Basse’s work. The soft...

Japanese Kutani Porcelain Sleeping Cat Okimono, “Nemuri-Neko” Style, Taishō–Early Shōwa Period A refined Japanese Kutani porcelain okimono depicting a peacefully sleeping cat, datin...

A beautiful, decorative midcentury Rimini blue glazed fish sculpture. Designed by Aldo Londi, manufactured by Bitossi Ceramiche / Italy in the 19...

A set of four handmade stoneware birds by Swedish ceramicist Bengt Wall, crafted in his Trosa studio in the 1970s. Each unique and hand-signed, the figures combine Nordic folk charm ...

French Art Deco stoneware fox by Paul MILET, 8, rue Troyon, Sèvres, France, 1920s. Height : 25cm - 9.85 in. , Width : 35cm - 13.8 in., Depth : 13.5cm-5.3in. The condition is excellen...

MCM stoneware lion bank sculpture by David Gil for Bennington Pottery of Vermont, circa 1960s. This unique piece is in very good vintage condition and measu...

A very rare Bird figurine, by Lisa Larson for Gustavsberg from a limited studio production known as "Fåglar" from 1964. This is typical of Lisa Larson's Scandinavian minimalism, a ni...

Great stoneware sculpture designed by Sven Wejsfelt for Gustavsberg, Sweden, during the 1980s. This pike belongs of the designers series 'Stim'.

Ewa Budzowska Sculpture, 1980s. Elegant bird-shaped sculpture in hand-modelled stoneware with a light, slightly rough surface and incised linear decoration, mounted on metal legs wit...

Lisa Larson “Polar Bear” Figurine for Gustavsberg — From the Lilla Zoo Series, 1976 A charming vintage Polar Bear figurine designed by renowned Swedish ceramic artist Lisa Larson fo...

A Cubist ceramic cat sculpture by the Galician artist Alfonso Otero Regal, hand-painted and sgraffito-decorated in brown and navy on a cream stoneware body, in a Picasso-esque manner...

Bird Animal Stone Sculpture - Carved Limestone Bookends - France 1970s Gorgeous stone sculpture depicting a bird (most probably a pigeon) made...

Rare stoneware figurine of a huge goat buck model no. 20853 designed by Karl Larsen (1897-1977) in 1947. Made in a serie of 15 numbers. This one is no 1 out of 15 pieces. It 's manuf...

A chubby and unusual Money bank pig executed in glazed studio stoneware. A unique design by the Danish ceramist Per Steffen Petersen who from the 1940s onwards worked at Kähler in De...

In Japanese culture the Koi fish symbolizes courage, perseverance, bravery and love simultaneously. This emblematic stoneware sculpture however was made in Denmark by Aage Würtz circ...

Vintage MCM stoneware pig sculpture by Alfaraz of Spain, circa 1970s. The piece is in good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and a wonderful patina; it measures 8"W x 4.25"D ...

Lars Pagfeldt — Signed Stoneware Frog Sculpture, Limited Edition 70/100, Sweden Charming and collectible stoneware sculpture by Swedish artist Lars Pagfeldt, titled "Frog". This beau...

Pair of Ming dynasty fish roof tiles, circa 1600.

Knud Kyhn (1880-1969) Impressive and rare large-scale (H: 61 cm / 24 in) unique stoneware sculpture of a seated horned owl, modeled by Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. The piece is e...

Carl-Harry Stålhane for Rörstrand Sculptural bird figure, mid-20th century. Rare stoneware sculpture in the form of a bird, featuring Stålhane’s signature organic volume and rich gla...

A rare stoneware bird by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen made in the in the 1950s. A perfect detail. * A stoneware desk bird with brown glaze * Designer: Svend Aage Holm Sørensen * Year:...

Vintage wall plaque abstract mid century ceramic wall hanging stoneware Blue glazed Owls relief designed by Sven Aage Jensen and manufactured by S...

A fantastic, quite heavy and solid, large hand-crafted stoneware rabbit sculpture done in a modern abstract, almost brutalist or Japanese Mingei Folk Art style. The work is appar...

Set of two surrealistic animal stoneware sculptures by Boris Stojkov for Gustavsberg, model number 2 and 4 in the series “BORIS”. Partially made in unglazed matte off-white color wit...

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This is a late 19th century or early 20th century glazed stoneware sculpture of an American buffalo… this is a large and heavy sculpture, 27 1/2 inches long 20 1/2 inches high and a...

Sung glazed stoneware Terrier by Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen, designed in the 1920’s - this little dog has great character - typical of a terrier Super example of Kyhn's creativen...

Large sculptural ceramic wall panel with three stylized horses in strong relief against a deep blue crater-glazed background. A rare and impressive Mid-Century artwork with monumenta...

Cream white glazed ceramic horses made by Bruno Gambone in the 1970s, signed Gambone on the bottom. Wonderful set in excellent condition. Only two available, the one in the middle on...

Knud Kyhn designed this sung glazed stoneware Mammoth in the 1920's for Royal Copenhagen, Denmark. This item was purchased 45 years ago at Georg Jensen in New York and is in 'as new...

Discover this unique piece of stoneware ceramic, an exquisitely crafted lion by the famous ceramist Antonio Salvador Orodea and the renowned ASO factory. Part of a trilogy from the 1...

English salt glazed stoneware lion modeled recumbent on a stepped rectangular plinth, the forepaws crossed and the head facing forward. The mane is worked in long flowing locks washe...

Ceramic figure depicting a bear, model 20155, designed by Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. Executed in stoneware and produced at Royal Copenhagen around 1960. The model is part of Kyh...

Many of Kyhn’s finest works were created at Royal Copenhagen between 1923 and 1935 and indeed, contributed significantly to the manufactory’s success at the 1925 Paris Exposition. In...

Vintage animal sculpture/figurine of a weasel in nature by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden. Made ca 1960s. The sculpture is made of st...

Miniature stoneware turtle sculpture by Meissen Boettger, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good condition with no chips or cracks and measures 2.25"W x 3""D x 1.5"H. Great detail a...

A lovely owl designed by Edward Lindahl at Gustavsberg. The owl is 6.5 cm tall and in excellent condition. it is marked as on the photo. Edward Lindahl was active at the Gustavsber...

Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. Glazed stoneware figurine of a panther with young cub, decorated in a stunning sung glaze. Signed KK (Knud Kyhn) and Royal Copenhagen stamp, No. 202...

Stunning, unique dragon sculpture by Wilhelm Kåge, made from stoneware with beautiful green glaze. Rare, large size. Very expressive and lively design, inspired by Chinese Ming era d...

Wonderful Minimalist bear form, golden speckle textured matte glaze. Over 1 foot high and 15 lbs.

Cream white glazed ceramic cat made by Bruno Gambone in the 1970s, signed Gambone Italy on the bottom.

Danish stoneware stoat figurine by Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen, 1970s. Beautiful stoat figurine in sung glaze. Made between 1969 and 1974. Perfect condition. First factory qualit...

Guangdong Province, China Iron Oxide Body with Celadon Accents A rare and beautifully stylized Shiwan (also known as Shekwan) pottery elephant, dating to the mid to late 19th centu...

Stig Lindberg (1916-1982) for Gustavsberg. Horse figurine in glazed stoneware with light green glaze In excellent condition. Signed: Gustavsberg Sweden. Sticker. Dimensions: W 10.0 ...

Stoneware figure depicting a panther, model 20283, designed by Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. The figure is executed in stoneware and is part of Kyhn’s animal sculptures produced at...

Cream white glazed ceramic bull made by Bruno Gambone in the 1970s, signed Gambone on the bottom.

A black basalt bulb pot molded as a hedgehog, made by Wedgwood in the middle of the 19th century. Finely molded as a lively little hedgehog, this unique object would have been use...

A wonderfully designed, beautifully made Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian lion sculpture/figurine by Swedish master potter/ceramicist Lisa Larson (1931-2024) for Gustavsberg, Sweden (...

Stoneware figure depicting a standing deer, model no. 21333, designed by Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. The figure is executed in stoneware and belongs to Kyhn’s animal sculptures p...

Raw glazed ceramic horse made by Bruno Gambone from 1975, signed Gambone on the bottom. Very rare in the raw version.

French Art Deco Ceramic Seagull Sculpture by Moulin-des-Loups (Orchies), France, 1920s A striking example of French Art Deco ceramics, this elegant seagull sculpture was produced by...

Owl ceramic sculpture by Albert Thiry, Vallauris, 1960s, era Blin Capron Rare owl sculpture by French ceramist Albert Thiry, produced in the 1960s. Crafted in chamotte stoneware wit...

A sculpture of a polar bear in ceramics with a stunning white glaze designed by Gunnar Nylund at Rörstrand. It is in excellent condition except from a minor stain in the glaze on the...

A very rare Bird figurine, by Lisa Larson for Gustavsberg from a limited studio production known as "Fåglar" from 1964. This is typical of Lisa Larson's Scandinavian minimalism, a ni...

A pair of mounted porcelain Karp shaped vases. Gilt - Bronze Mounted Blue Enameled Stoneware, Chinese 18th Century, the Mounts are Louis XV, Circa 1750...

A striking stoneware sculpture number 21632 designed by the Danish ceramist Knud Kyhn and made at his Royal Copenhagen Studio during the 1950s. It depicts a dramatic monkey or gorill...

An elegant and highly decorative French Art Deco ceramic sculpture depicting a reclining Greyhound (Lévrier), produced by Digoin Sarreguemines and designed by Jean Georges An elegant...

Staffordshire, England, circa 1745 – 1760 This charming and unusual figure depicts a seated cat, its body marbled in tones of buff, grey, and warm brown, the patterns flowing like fur beneath a translucent salt glaze. From the crown of its head rises a small candleholder—an enchanting, functional variation that transforms the cat into a decorative light for the Georgian home. The salt-glazed surface has a gentle satin sheen, enlivened by a cobalt wash brushed across the ears and shoulders, a subtle touch of color that draws the eye. The figure is compact and beautifully balanced, exuding both humor and grace: a work of wit and craftsmanship meant to charm and amuse as much as to illuminate. As a pair, this cat with candleholder and its companion cat carrying a mouse form a dialogue of light and life—one playful, one practical—representing the Staffordshire potters’ genius for turning everyday subjects into artful curiosities. Attribution and Significance Within the history of English ceramics, agateware animals represent the marriage of experimentation and domestic charm. They were objects of conversation—proof of a potter’s technical mastery and a household’s refinement. This cat, with its delicate candleholder, captures that artistic playfulness and innovation. The glaze’s clarity, the elegant pose, and the subtle marbling make it not only an artifact of mid-18th-century Staffordshire but also a small masterpiece of whimsy and craft. Scholarly Analysis and Authentication The figure is made from laminated clays of contrasting colors, known as laid agate, a technique perfected in Staffordshire workshops during the 1740s and 1750s. Strata of buff, pale grey, and iron-bearing brown clay were rolled together, pressed into a two-part mold, and luted along the spine before firing. The cat’s body thus shows true through-body marbling: the veining continues through the thickness of the clay, not merely applied on the surface. The candle socket, made from a single buff clay rather than agate, was luted to the head before glazing. This practical choice prevented distortion during firing and was a typical workshop economy seen in other mid-18th-century functional animal forms. The piece was salt-glazed in a wood- or coal-fired kiln into which common salt was introduced near peak temperature. Sodium vapor combined with the silica of the clay to form a thin, glassy coating. Here, the glaze is smooth and even, suggesting the cat was fired within a protective sagger. The underside of the figure is open, revealing the pressed-clay interior. Two or three very small stilt contacts are visible on the bottom ledge, confirming that the figure rested on kiln props during firing rather than being supported from beneath a closed base. The cobalt wash was brushed under the glaze before firing. It fuses permanently into the surface, creating soft haloes of blue wholly consistent with decoration on salt-glazed figures from the Whieldon circle circa 1750-1760. Later 19th-century reproductions employ overpainted enamels that sit atop the glaze. The open underside, authentic stratified body, integrated socket, and original cobalt staining collectively identify this as a genuine product of Staffordshire’s mid-18th-century agateware tradition, most plausibly from the orbit of Thomas Whieldon at Fenton Vivian or a closely related potter. The measured height, modelling, and marbling correspond closely to examples in the Burnap Collection (nos.. 362–363, Nelson-Atkins Museum) and Sotheby’s (2015) — “A Staffordshire agateware cat-form candlestick, circa 1755. Provenance / Condition: Current Condition: Excellent, with one ear repaired at the tip and restoration at the top of the candleholder; the glaze remains bright and continuous across the body and socket. References: Burnap Collection, English Pottery 1675–1825, nos. 362–363. Sotheby’s (2015) — “A Staffordshire agateware cat-form candlestick, circa 1755. Christie’s, London 2010, lot 82. 1stDibs “Staffordshire Agateware Pottery Saltglaze Figure of a Cat,” item ref LU95812370442 Price: $3100 Chipstone Foundation, Marbled Agateware: Techniques and Identification, 2005. Henry Sandon, Staffordshire Pottery, 1970, pp. 52–54. John Howard Antiques, Antique Agateware...

Henrik Allert for Pentik, Finland. Unique polar bear in ceramics, 1970s. Stylish modern Finnish design. In great condition. Measures: 10 cm x 6.5 cm. Signed.

Frog in a Cup Sculpture Signed by Artist, Ceramic Pottery, USA, 1996 A frog in a cup: the gift for someone who has almost everything, and a sense of humor. Signed and dated by the s...