Red Squirrel (by Hans Hoffmann) Ceramic Tree Decoration

The design features a painting by 16th-century German artist Hans Hoffmann (1530–1591/2). Hans Hoffman was a leading representative of the "Dürer Renaissance" who was particularly well known for his skill in producing accurate nature studies. The painting shows an adorable red squirrel chomping on a nut or piece of fruit that is grasped between its little hands. It was painted in watercolor and gouache. The red squirrel, or Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), is a tree-dwelling omnivorous rodent that is common throughout Eurasia, although its numbers have been falling in some countries such as Great Britain, Ireland and Italy. The original painting was completed in 1578, and it is now housed in the United States National Gallery of Art.