Funky Mid-Century Ceramic Turtle Candleholder, Signed bento box No tag or other identifying

No tag or other identifying mark

with pencil (and some erasure marks) underneath

19th century I would guess

primarily in an expressionistic style

I think the design-- executed in low relief and glazed a lighter brown--is just terrific

Funky Mid-Century Ceramic Turtle Candleholder, Signed bento box No tag or other identifyingSuch a curious one weird, but wonderful, I think! That face! And it seems just right this little turtle should carry a candle on its back. I'm fairly certain 1960s or so, I think Canadian as that's where it came from, and signed on the underside, though rather hard to read. Some crazing to the glaze but I think that rather adds to the effect! No chips or cracks, and holds a standard sized taper. 4 1 2" long x 3 3 8" tall x 3 1 4" wide.