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Page 24 The Antique Shoppe February, 2020
coupled with its skyline-grazing height and often ballet-like poses, made it an
“SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE” ideal subject for sculpting.
Some firms, like Red Wing, Haeger, and Will-George, went for adaptem
Design Trends of the Mid-20th Century realism. Others, such as Madison’s Ceramic Arts Studio, anthropomorphized
them. The grinning expressions of the mother and child duo created by CAS
designer Betty Harrington are warmly human.
By Donald-Brian Johnson Most popular though, are abstract interpretations, with the artist’s own
impressions the major defining aspect.
This Month’s Feature— In a ceramic giraffe by Howard Pierce or Roselane, or a glass giraffe by
“Sticking Their Necks Out: Murano, it’s the shape that’s important. One look at the extended, curved
necks, and the tiny horns between the ears (those are called “ossicones”,
Mid-Century Giraffe Figurines” by the way), and there’s no doubt what’s being depicted. Other artists took
abstraction even further: giraffe figurines by the Finnish pottery, “Arabia”
Cats are cute. Dogs, devoted are almost triangular and nearly featureless. The tan spots, though, are a sure
Hamsters, according to some giveaway.
folks, hilarious. But nowadays, the Some animals soar to the heights in popularity, then settle at a less heady
competition is Gargantuan. Literally. level. (Pandas? Their peak might have been reached with Kung Fu Panda
Running neck-and-neck in the race in 2008.) Not so the giraffe. Geoffrey, the beloved spokes-animal for
for America’s most adorable animal Toys R Us, delighted youngsters for over 50 years. (He even
is a towering competitor: the giraffe. called the kids on their birthdays, if Mom and Dad had been
Averaging 18-plus feet in height thoughtful enough to sign them up). Pop vocalist Meghan Trainor
(the tallest species on the planet), showed up on The Tonight Show in her giraffe onesie, to promote
the giraffe is what zoologists call a a new music video. April, the New York giraffe mom-to-be, became
“charismatic megafauna”. a worldwide sensation in the spring of 2017, when the birth of her
In other words, a really big creature calf was transmitted live over YouTube. And, giraffe figurines of the
guaranteed to win hearts. Maybe 1950s and ‘60s continue to entrance today’s buyers, who are lured by
it’s those long, long legs. That the aura of elegance and peacefulness they convey.
long, long, neck. The long, long Today, less than 100,000 of these skyscrapers of the animal
eyelashes. Or that long, long kingdom remain (about 500 are in U.S. zoos). “Giraffanalia” reminds
(about 18 inches) tongue. us of their enduring beauty. Cats, dogs, even hamsters? Well, sure.
Whatever the reason, giraffes have been But when it comes to irresistibility, giraffes are hard to top.
turning heads since time immemorial. The Greeks
dubbed them “camelopardalis”, assuming the animals to be a
camel/leopard hybrid (today, a giraffe-life constellation still carries
that name.)
Our modern word, “giraffe”, is Arabic for “fast walker”.
With their loping gait, giraffes certainly qualify.
Accurately depicting the unique aspects of the giraffe is
a tall order, but artists have been taking a dab at it for ages.
The Kiffians of ancient Africa created a giraffe rock engraving
(it’s full size, the world’s largest). Charles X, France’s king
in the early 19th century, dotted his palace with numerous
giraffe paintings, in tribute to his own pet, Zarafa. Salvador
Dali, the surrealist artist of the mid-20th century, found
giraffes a favorite subject for his brush, complementing
their natural allure by adding burning manes. (Dali dubbed
his creations “masculine cosmic apocalyptic monsters”,
evidently intending that as a compliment.)
Equally aflame with creativity, (although a bit more Shown Top to Bottom:
subtle in expressing it), were the many other mid- • Human-like interaction between mother and child. The pair was
century artisans drawn to these tall created by Betty Harrington for Ceramic Arts Studio in 1951. Tallest
drinks of water. First off were the figure, 6-1/2” h., $100-125/pr.
toymakers. Their work ranged • A Howard Pierce abstract giraffe in grey. 10-1/2” h., $75-100.
from inexpensive cuddlers • Graceful green giraffe planter by Haeger. 16” h., $250-300.
filling bargain bins at dime • Haeger mother and child duo, on wood base. 14” h., $250-
stores nationwide, to the 300.
plush charmers created • “Truly a breathtaking moment”. Giraffes in the wild,
by Germany’s Steiff used as a selling point for South African tourism. National
company. These are high- Geographic, 1957. $5-10.
end, handmade, and • An eye-catching chartreuse and blue alternate
distinguished by Steiff’s colorway for the Roselane giraffes. Tallest figure,
trademark “button in ear”. 10-1/2” h., $150-200/pr.
For grown-up kids, (Photo by Leslie Piña)
ceramic and glass designers
offered a generous grab bag Giraffe figurines courtesy of Photo Associate Hank Kuhlmann
of “giraffanalia” collectors’ Donald-Brian Johnson is the co-author of numerous books on
design and collectibles, including “Postwar Pop”, a collection of
(the term for such items). his columns. Please address inquiries to: donaldbrian@msn.com
The simple, graceful
lines of the giraffe,