Well if one is hand-building a vessel anyway, why not roll out a long piece of clay so that a snake might slither across the top? And even better than it have a pinkish-peachy stripe all the way down its back, and an unglazed area around it making it feel as if its slithering through the sand. This is signed Robinson on the underside, and I think could be an early piece by James Robinson, a studio ceramicist from Keene New Hampshire (very near where I found this) who studied at Southern Oregon State College, Ashland, Oregon and now lives and works in Medford, OR.

7" w x 4 1/4" d x 3 3/8" t and in great condition, no chips, cracks or other issues.