The Met's unofficial mascot—this tiny hippo named William—has a bit of a dark side

"A lot of us are inclined to only see his cute side, but in fact there is a lot more to him than that."

"A lot of us are inclined to only see his cute side, but in fact there is a lot more to him than that."

Curator Isabel Stünkel on an Egyptian statuette of a hippopotamus (popularly called "William").

Explore this object:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/544227

Throughout 2013, The Met invited curators from across the Museum to each talk about one artwork that changed the way they see the world.

Photography by Mark Morosse

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Contributors

Isabel Stünkel
Curator, Department of Egyptian Art

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Anne Anlin Cheng
May 16
Close-up of a Queen of Clubs playing card with a cut-out section. Behind it, a faded, ghostly face is visible, creating a surreal, mysterious mood.
The artist’s work challenges the social and political context of mass incarceration.
Lisa Sutcliffe
April 28
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Hippopotamus ("William"), Faience
ca. 1961–1878 B.C.