Ceramic frog

Yet another impulse eBay purchase from several years back. I love nature critters Description said it was probably a matchstick holder from an estate sale in Italy. They said it's signed "Denici Maliport 1901." I see it as Dernici Maliport or Maleport and am unsure of the year. I've googled many variations of the name and nothing came up. Maybe you can make it out better than I. Anyone familiar with this, or maybe just some amateur work? It's about 3 1/2" tall.











No flash

 

I see BERNICE something, _mal_port maybe something like SMALLPORT. So maybe a hobbiest decorator. If that's a year I'd think 1961 or 1981 would be more likely. But what do I know? I'm just guessing. Sponge holder? Ring holder?

 

Nice glaze. It could be an ash receiver.

 

I agree with SIS. Sponge holder.

 

It's a very nice impulse buy. I'd have bought it too!

 

The top part says Deruta, where such critters are made. Larger ones (minus the butterfly) were big in the 70's for holding ones SOS pads. I think I still have mine...somewhere. Big green fellow.

 

There's no way it says Deruta. It's from a hobbyist ceramic mold, like this one: https://www.etsy.com/listing/115579659/frog-sponge-holder-scrubby-holder-or

 

Thanks Janet, that's definitely it. Wow, that's a far cry from what the seller said about it being from an Italian estate in 1901! Oh well... caveat emptor. I will make more informed purchases in the future! I still like the frog