Vintage Mid Century Ceramic Tiger Figurine Crouching Porcelain Bengal Ornament
£28.00
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Vintage Mid Century Ceramic Tiger Figurine Crouching Porcelain Bengal Ornament
£28.00
Item Overview
- Type: Vintage Ceramic Wild Animal Figurine / Mid-Century Art Pottery Bengal Tiger
- Designer: Continental Pottery Studio Artisan
- Brand: Unbranded Vintage Marque (In the style of Beswick / Goebel)
- Manufacturer: European Art Ceramic Foundry
- MPN: Does Not Apply
- Place of Origin: Continental Europe (Likely Italy or West Germany)
- Style: Mid-Century Modern Animalier / Retro Hollywood Regency / Exotic Mantelshelf Decor
- Colour: Warm Honey Amber, Ochraceous Orange, Stark White Base, Jet Black Stripes, and Emerald-Tinted Airbrush Shading
- Design Era: Mid-Century Modern Period (c. 1960s–1970s)
- Material: Fine Slip-Cast Earthenware Ceramic / High-Gloss Lead-Free Silhouette Glaze
- Set Includes: One (1) Single Integrated Low-Profile Crouching Tiger Ceramic Sculpture
- Features: Hand-Painted Whiskers and Facial Expressions, Airbrushed Tonal Recess Shading, Integrated Foot Venting Holes, and Allover Aged Crazing
- Condition: Good Vintage Condition with Authentic Glaze Character (The structural ceramic body is entirely solid, rigid, and free from cracks or historic restorations; the surface houses an allover uniform network of vintage age crazing as detailed below)
- Size and Capacity: Measures a substantial 7.5 inches in total length from the front paw to the curve of the tail (approx. 19.1 cm), standing 2.5 inches in height at the shoulder (approx. 6.4 cm).
Dating & Historical Context
- Dating: This expressive feline ornament dates to the mid-century modern era (c. 1960s–1970s). The specific industrial signatures—including the configuration of the open slip-casting vents under the feet, the type of hand-applied underglaze pigments, and the widespread development of uniform crazing across the clear overglaze coat—are definitive diagnostics perfectly matching earthenware figures imported into Great Britain during the high post-war decorative boom.
- Historical Note: The post-war decades saw a huge cultural shift in British interior styling, moving away from formal Victorian clutter to embrace bold, exotic conversation statements. Influenced by the glamour of Hollywood Regency design trends, European pottery studios produced highly stylized wild cat figurines that celebrated power and fluid movement. Master decorators used a combination of technique layers: first airbrushing broad sweeps of diluted black ink to soften the face contours, then hand-painting the sharp, graphic tiger stripes directly over the honey-orange slips before dipping the entire piece into a glassy protective glaze. This specific unit represents an authentic piece of mid-century social history, showcasing a sleek, aerodynamic stalking pose that was engineered to rest perfectly flat across low teak sideboards or tiled fireplace hearths.
Description
A beautifully proportioned and wonderfully dynamic acquisition for collectors of vintage art pottery, safari theme stagers, or retro interior curators, this mid-century ceramic Bengal tiger is full of predatory character. Formed in an intense low-profile crouching stance, the tiger is sculpted with a broad, focused face, flattened ears, and a muscular shoulder arch that moves down into a long, trailing tail tucked closely against its flank. The high-shine glaze amplifies the rich depth of the orange and white under-slips, allowing the striking black stripe geometry to catch the light beautifully from any mantel vantage point.
Expert Identification & Ceramic Craftsmanship Features:
- Stalking Silhouette: The low, horizontal layout provides excellent physical stability while capturing a timeless sense of tension and movement.
- Artisanal Detail: Features individually brush-stroked eyelashes, muzzle markings, and ear pads that give the tiger an imposing, lifelike expression.
- Authentic Slip-Cast Bottoms: The unglazed foot pads expose the clean, creamy white earthenware paste beneath, displaying pristine factory-carved air vents.
- High-Gloss Lustre: The liquid glaze layer remains exceptionally glassy, protecting the deep underglaze colors from fading under modern UV exposure.
Condition Report
This vintage ceramic figurine is in good condition, showing a beautiful abundance of authentic mid-century character. The slip-cast earthenware body is structurally flawless, perfectly rigid, and complete, entirely free from perimeter foot chips, sharp impact flea bites along the ears, or hidden structural fracture restorations. In keeping with its authentic 50-to-60-year age, the clear overglaze houses a uniform, widespread network of fine spiderweb crazing. This crazing is completely stable, does not compromise the underlying structural ceramic paste, and serves as an exceptional diagnostic testament to its genuine vintage heritage. Please consult the macro photo gallery with the scale rule to confirm the physical dimensions.
Shipping & Logistics
- Domestic Shipping: FREE UK TRACKED DELIVERY.
- Packaging: This fragile ceramic item will be double-boxed for maximum security. The tiger will be insulated inside high-density bubble cushioning, surrounded by loose-fill packing peanuts within an inner container, and then set inside a rigid outer box to safeguard against impact shock waves during transit.
- Dispatch: Order before 12.00pm and we ship same day.
Returns & Payment Policies
We want you to be delighted with your heritage find.
- Not as Described: In the unlikely event of an error in our listing, we will provide a full refund and cover the return postage costs.
- Change of Mind: We accept returns within 30 days; however, in these instances, the buyer is responsible for the return shipping costs.