Signed Mid-Century Ceramic Artware Base

This item is the base component of a ceramic object, likely a decorative figure or vessel, featuring a distinctive kidney-shaped or crescent profile. The piece is constructed from a pale, buff-colored earthenware or stoneware with an unglazed, matte finish on the bottom surface shown. It measures approximately 4 to 6 inches in width. The most defining feature is the hand-incised or painted artist's signature reading 'LHEC' with a stylized horizontal flourish, accompanied by smaller initials such as 'P.L.G.' below it. The craftsmanship suggests a mid-20th-century studio pottery origin, possibly from the 1960s or 1970s. The surface shows minor pitting, small firing inclusions, and light surface dirt consistent with age. There are no apparent cracks or major repairs visible in this specific view, though the rough texture of the unglazed ceramic indicates it was designed to sit flat on a surface as a supportive base. The quality of the markings indicates a hand-crafted piece rather than mass-produced factory ware.