{"product_id":"metropolitan-museum-hippopotamus-ceramic","title":"Metropolitan Museum William the Hippo Egyptian Figurine in Blue","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThis charming blue hippopotamus is an official Metropolitan Museum of Art reproduction of William, the ancient Egyptian faience hippo who has become the much loved unofficial mascot of the museum in New York. The original was made around 4,000 years ago in the Middle Kingdom and placed in a tomb to carry the powers of rebirth into the afterlife, and it has been winning hearts at the Met since it arrived there in 1917. Our piece captures him beautifully, in a rich Egyptian blue with lotus flowers and marsh plants drawn in black line across his body just as on the original, a reference to his home along the shallow banks of the Nile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eHe measures 19 cm long, 10 cm tall and 7 cm wide, a generous full size that gives him real presence on a shelf, a desk or a mantel. The base carries the moulded Metropolitan Museum copyright mark that confirms it as an official reproduction, and the four legs have unglazed clay bases as made. The glaze has an allover fine crazing that is part of its character and finish, and he is in good order throughout, with any wear shown closely in the photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWilliam is one of the most recognisable objects in any museum collection, and reproductions like this are collected and loved the world over, both by people who have made the trip to the Met and by anyone drawn to Egyptian art and that unmistakable blue. He makes a wonderful gift for a museum lover, an Egyptologist in the making, or anyone who finds him as endearing as we do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eStand him among your books, place him on a shelf with other ceramic and blue and white pieces, or let him sit alone as a piece of colour and conversation. The strong blue looks striking against wood, cream, brass and greenery. Full of history and charm, he is a lovely thing to own and an even lovelier one to give.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Blue Loft","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54415459844423,"sku":null,"price":34.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0850\/3921\/9015\/files\/C000F765-A7FC-43B1-AE19-7FB77E767325.jpg?v=1785412587","url":"https:\/\/www.theblueloft.co.uk\/products\/metropolitan-museum-hippopotamus-ceramic","provider":"The Blue Loft","version":"1.0","type":"link"}