Ishtar Stoneware Ornament - Cream

Ishtar is a stoneware ornament in the form of a seated woman, her legs folded to one side, her hands resting flat at her sides and her long hair falling down her back. The face is left almost blank, and the whole figure is left rough and faceted, with soft planes and ridges that catch the light across the shoulders, arms and knees. She is finished in cream with a coarse glaze, so she reads as quiet and earthy rather than polished. At 20.5cm tall, 15cm wide and 11.5cm long, she is a shelf or tabletop size: large enough to hold her own beside a vase or a few books, and small enough to move from room to room.

Seated low with her head lifted a little, she suits a coffee table, a side table beside an armchair, a bookshelf, a mantelpiece or the top of a chest of drawers. She sits comfortably on a stack of books, and on a hallway console a single figure gives a plain surface a point of interest. On a dressing table or a bedside table she adds a calm, human note to a bedroom. She also makes a thoughtful gift for anyone who likes ceramics or figurative work, or who is putting together a quiet reading nook for themselves.

Stoneware is a dense clay fired at high temperature, so it is hard and has a satisfying weight; she weighs 0.55KG. The coarse glaze gives her a slightly rough, tactile surface rather than a glassy shine, and it suits her faceted modelling. Care is simple: clean her with a damp, soft cloth when she gathers dust. The styling props shown are not included. For styling, pair her with natural textures such as wood, stone, wicker or dried stems, and leave a little space around her so her outline reads clearly.

What material is the Ishtar ornament?

She is made of 100% stoneware, a dense clay fired hard, and finished with a coarse glaze in cream.

How big is the figure?

She is 20.5cm tall, 15cm wide and 11.5cm long, a comfortable size for a shelf, a mantelpiece or a coffee table.

How heavy is the ornament?

She weighs 0.55KG, so she is easy to lift and move when you dust or rearrange a shelf or a table.

How do I clean the stoneware figure?

Clean her with a damp, soft cloth. The coarse glaze has a slightly rough texture, so a gentle wipe is all it needs.

Is the surface glossy?

No. The coarse glaze gives a slightly rough, tactile finish rather than a glassy shine, with soft ridges and planes across the whole figure.

Where does the figure look best?

She suits a coffee table, a side table, a bookshelf, a mantelpiece or a dressing table, and she sits comfortably on a stack of books.