Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Stoneware Figurine of a Lyre Player

This is a hand-sculpted studio pottery figurine depicting a stylized male figure holding a lyre. The piece is crafted from a coarse, heavily grogged stoneware clay, resulting in a gritty, sand-like surface texture consistent with Mid-Century Modern or Brutalist aesthetics. The primary body color is a natural, warm buff-tan, while the hair, lyre, and waist wrap are accented with a dark charcoal or black metallic-look glaze applied with visible brushstrokes. The figure features a minimalistic face with small, recessed eyes and a circular mouth, topped with a decorative crown or headband with a twisted, laurel-like appearance. The lyre includes white slip or glaze accents to represent strings and bindings. Structurally, the figure rises from two cylindrical, hollow-form legs. The craftsmanship shows a sophisticated understanding of form and texture, characteristic of post-war European or American studio ceramics, likely dating from the 1960s to the 1970s. The condition appears excellent with no visible cracks or significant chips, and the rough surface suggests a deliberate finish rather than environmental wear.