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Hippopotamus Mummy, Lorraine Jenyns
  • Artist
    Lorraine Jenyns
  • Born
    1945
  • Title
    Hippopotamus Mummy
  • Date of Production
    1975
  • Medium
    eathenware, glaze and paint
  • Dimensions
    45 x 26 cm
  • Credit Details
    Purchased with donations to celebrate 21 years of Margaret Rich as Gallery Director, 2002. © the artist

Lorraine Jenyns

Hippopotamus Mummy

Although trained in sculpture and painting, Lorraine Jenyns had no prior formal training in ceramics when she started working with clay in the late 1960s. Hand built and painted in strong colours, Hippopotamus Mummy takes the ceramic medium and extends it into the realm of sculpture. Painted predominantly in black and grey, with a pattern inspired by Egyptian mummy wrappings, this is one of a series of animal figures by Jenyns that are based on the form of Canopic Jars, which were originally made to hold the vital organs of deceased persons. Inspired by her exploration of Ancient Egypt funerary rituals, this work is also an expression of the artist's love for animals.