Pontus Stoneware Vase 15.5cm - Green

This green stoneware vase is modelled as a ring of elephant heads, each with its ears fanned out against its neighbour's and its trunk curving down the body to meet the base. The trunks stand clear of the wall in loops, so the piece reads as sculpture from every side, and the rim dips and rises with the crowns of the heads. It is 15.5cm across and 15.5cm tall, a compact, rounded vase rather than a tall one, and at 1.05KG it has a reassuring weight in the hand. The glaze gathers darker in the recesses and thins over the raised edges, so the eyes, tusks and ear rims are picked out clearly.

At this size it suits a short posy, a few garden stems cut low or a handful of dried grasses, rather than a tall arrangement. The wide mouth also takes a small houseplant left in its nursery pot, such as a succulent, so the leaves rise just above the heads. It belongs on a bookshelf, a mantelpiece, a windowsill or a bedside table, and suits anyone who likes animal forms in a room without wanting anything twee. As a present it is a good fit for an elephant lover, a new home or a friend with a growing shelf of plants.

It is made of 100% stoneware, a dense, hard-fired clay that gives the vase its solid, substantial feel. The maker notes that, due to the nature of the glaze, colour variations may occur, so the depth of the green and the way it gathers in the modelling can differ a little from one vase to the next. For styling, set it beside plain pieces in wood or linen so the elephant heads carry the eye, or group it with other glazed ceramics of different heights on an open shelf, keeping it near eye level where the faces can be seen.

What material is the Pontus vase?

It is made of 100% stoneware with a green glaze. Stoneware is a dense, hard-fired clay, so the vase feels solid and weighs 1.05KG.

How big is it?

It is 15.5cm across and 15.5cm tall, so it is a compact vase best suited to short stems, a small posy or a little potted plant rather than tall flowers.

Will my vase look exactly like the photographs?

Not exactly. The maker notes that, due to the nature of the glaze, colour variations may occur, so the green and its shading will vary a little from piece to piece.

Is the plant included?

No. The vase comes on its own; the plant and the styling props shown are not included, so you can fill it with stems or a potted plant of your choice.

What do the elephants look like?

The heads are modelled in relief all the way round the body, with fanned ears, small tusks and trunks that curve down in loops to the base.