Charming (and Heavy!) Handmade Clay Bear Sculpture Ford and Ford Victorian era American

Victorian era American

but it was so lovingly and labor-intensively made (taking three years

late 19th or early 20th century I believe

especially on the top

the piece is in very good condition

Charming (and Heavy!) Handmade Clay Bear Sculpture Ford and Ford Victorian era AmericanI think this bear is a charmer, with a great, bold presence and also, with these elegantly pointing legs, ears and nose, a lot of grace. He's solid clay, with a warm, shiny brown glaze on his belly and great reactive black glaze on his back, which gives him a sort of Brutalist feel, too. Signed (incised) on the bottom of his feet John M. Turner. I might guess 1970s or so but am really not certain. Standing dimensions: 7 3 4" tall x 4 1 2" w x 4 5 8"