I’m clearly not alone in my love for white ceramic animals. I recently opened my new copy of Thom Filicia Style (highly recommended—it’s full of inspiration) and noticed a clear theme: Thom has a fondness for ceramic creatures. There’s a white ceramic eagle used as a console table base, a large faux gazelle head mounted on the wall, another ceramic eagle used as a desk accessory, and even a small, stubborn ceramic bull on a coffee table.
It felt like a revelation. Thom uses ceramic animals throughout the book’s beautifully styled rooms—at least 14 different varieties appeared in the pages I flipped through. That’s a lot of personality packed into one design book. And of course I couldn’t help but think of Nate Berkus’ famous ceramic rhino that shows up in his portfolio—the sculptural animal trend clearly has some high-profile fans. That rhino even inspired my own Valentine’s Day rhino find from Z Gallerie, which was much more budget-friendly than some designer versions.
Last March we scored this handsome ceramic dog at HomeGoods for just $29—about $436 less than a nearly identical version sold elsewhere. It was love at first sight and instantly became one of those small, joyful pieces that give a room character.
A couple of years ago we also picked up a white iron bull at a flea market in North Carolina for $25. He even gets festive ornament “earrings” every December—because why not make your collectibles part of the holiday fun?
All of this makes me wonder: should ceramic animal lovers form a club or host a meet-and-greet? It would be delightfully odd, but also oddly comforting to be among people who appreciate the same decorative quirks. At least we haven’t named our pieces (yet), which leaves room for future personality development.
What about you—do you collect anything specific? From vintage milk glass to Disney memorabilia or porcelain figurines, people find joy in all kinds of collections. Tell us about the things you happily hunt for and display—whether they’re practical, nostalgic, or purely decorative.
There’s another ceramic animal that really steals my heart, though it’s a bit pricey. Someday, perhaps.