French Ceramic Anthropomorphic Figure by Marcel Giraud (circa 1990s)

French Ceramic Anthropomorphic Figure by Marcel Giraud (circa 1990s). A wonderfully characterful and humorous sculptural vessel from Marcel Giraud — the work of a potter entirely at ease with his craft and thoroughly enjoying himself. The piece takes the form of a rounded primate torso, most likely an orangutan, its body hand-thrown and combed with fine horizontal lines suggesting fur or skin texture across a cream and ochre speckled glaze.

Applied with considerable wit and skill, the figure's face with its long, drooping ears, peers from the upper body, while two small teats and a neat belly button are picked out in relief below. The wide oval cavity opening sits at a jaunty diagonal angle, its rim encircled by an applied rope-twist border in warm amber and sage green, lending the whole an air of cheerful, slightly raffish dignity.

This is the kind of anthropomorphic figure that Giraud created in the later decades of his career — objects that sit at the boundary between vessel and sculpture, between craft and art, and between the earnest and the comic. It is, in the best possible sense, impossible to look at without smiling. From a practical standpoint, it might be used to hold and diffuse pot-pourri, or possiblly as a cache-pot with an angled opening. Its use - other than as decoration -  is certainly open to one's imagination. It is in very good overall condition. The maker's stamp is found on the underside. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying this listing. Upon request a video will be provided.

Dimensions:

H 19.5 cm / 7.7"

Dia 16.5 cm /  6.5"