Shop: Hippo Ornament

Egyptian Hippo Glass Ornament

This glass blown hippopotamus ornament is an adaptationderived from a faience ceramic hippopotamus in out Egyptian Art collection. The ancient Egyptians hunted the hippopotamus from predynastic times. Many tomb reliefs depicted nobleman hunting the creatures from boats in remote nile marshes. Egyptians also placed statuettes of the hippopotami in their tombs to ensure the eternal celebration of the hunt. These statuettes were covered with a bright blue glaze and often decorated with leaves, flowers and buds of the lotus flower which grew in the Nile. Cute as these hippos were they did represent the forces of chaos and danger.

Following the traditions dating back many generations this ornament is mouth blown and hand painted of the Calik's workshop.