“I envied beasts . . . their hard claws, their resounding hooves, their sparkling phosphorescent shells, their thick coats, especially their horns . . . they give strange allure, dignity, exhalation, aggressiveness if necessary” – Leonor Fini.

Built up from humanoid forms and beastly features, ‘Sphinx’ falls amongst Ellie’s decorative monsters from candlesticks to incense holders. Adorned with claws and snarled faces, the clay vase is filled always with dead flowers and domineers any space it’s in. These pieces still function in their original role, turning Ellie’s clay creatures into house hold objects, watching over the domestic space from shelves and mantelpieces.