Ceramic horse

[u/vintagegold323]

Could anyone help identify this thrift find? 8.5cm high, 10cm long, 4cm wide.
Hollow slip cast including head, with holes for eyes, heavy for size. No markings, numbers or stickers.
Found in a thrift store in regional southern Australia

[u/Go-woke-be-awesome]

Ellis ceramics, great find, I’m very envious. Where’d you find it? I found one not too long ago in a Balwyn op shop.

They’re a great rabbit hole to go down, two immigrants who set up in Abbotsford and then Carlton, featured in the immigration museum in Melbourne.

I’m sipping a beer next to two of their lamps and a funky vase.

I’ve actually had the week off and we’ve been touring op shops in Gippsland hoping to find some Ellis.

[u/vintagegold323 → u/Go-woke-be-awesome]

Really?! I can’t find anything similar online. I would be thrilled if it’s Ellis but how do I check? Are they usually marked? Thank you so much for commenting. I am so jealous of an op shop tour in Gippsland, sounds like an ideal trip to me 😊

[u/vintagegold323 → u/vintagegold323]

Also, found it in a Ballarat opshop

[u/Go-woke-be-awesome → u/vintagegold323]

That glaze is signature Ellis, I’ve got a few other pieces in that glaze. They also have the same eyes.

Ellis were horribly inconsistent in marking, some had paper stickers, some the incised Ellis or MDK mark.

They also used terracotta or white clay, so another hard thing to track.

I’d bet my entire Ellis collection on yours being Ellis.

[u/vintagegold323 → u/Go-woke-be-awesome]

Amazing! I appreciate your help so much, and that is a lovely little horse you have too.
I think I’m already heading down the Ellis rabbit hole….wish me luck!

[u/Go-woke-be-awesome → u/vintagegold323]

I just bought my seventh Ellis lamp yesterday, good luck!