This is a small Egyptian faience figurine of a hippopotamus, featuring a vibrant blue body adorned with black lotus flowers — a nod to its natural habitat along the Nile. The lotus flowers, which bloom in the morning and close at night, symbolized renewal to the ancient Egyptians. Hippopotamus statuettes were commonly placed in tombs, serving to ensure the deceased’s rebirth in the afterlife.

This particular figurine, affectionately known as “William,” is the unofficial mascot of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Despite his friendly appearance, the hippopotamus was one of ancient Egypt’s most fearsome animals. Weighing several tons yet capable of outrunning humans, they posed a significant threat. Interestingly, “William” — like many similar figurines — has its legs broken. The two hind legs and the right front leg are modern restorations, as the original legs were likely intentionally damaged. Ancient Egyptians may have feared that even these small representations could harm the deceased, prompting relatives to deliberately disable the statuettes before placing them in tombs.

How big is it?
The figurine is approximately the size of an average plush toy, measuring 20 cm in length and 14 cm in height.

What is it made of?
The figurine is made of Egyptian faience, a unique material crafted by the ancient Egyptians from a blend of powdered quartz crystals, lime, and natron. They added mineral pigments to the mixture, then fired it like clay to create a glazed finish. The distinctive turquoise-like color of Egyptian faience imitated the colour of turquoise, and its radiance made it a powerful symbol of life, fertility.

Created between 1961–1878 BC
in ancient Egypt, the statuette is nearly four thousand years old.  This period of Egyptian history is known as the Middle Kingdom.

The small faience figurine was found in 1910 in the tomb of an official named Senbi in Meir, about 30 kilometres from the modern city of Assiut. It was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1917.

To learn more about this small hippo figurine, visit the website of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

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Many museums around the world have similar hippo figurines in their collections. If Vienna feels closer than New York, you can also meet one in the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

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Another object in our virtual museum also features an Egyptian hippopotamus – created in a completely different context. Find out when and why it was made!