A pair of Meissen models of cats with gilt metal mounts
155
A pair of Meissen models of cats, circa 1740
Modelled seated, one coloured in black and tan spots with a mouse in its mouth, the other with a grey spotted coat holding up its right paw, both seated on a naturalistic green grassy ground, both on ormolu mounts, 20 and 20.2cm high, crossed swords mark in blue to the base of one, the other with very faint traces of a crossed swords mark, (restoration and retouching of the enamel colours) (2)
Sold for £18,750 inc. premium

Footnotes

  • These cats were modelled by J. J. Kaendler and are recorded in his Arbeitsberichte for September 1736 as "2 Stuck Kleine Katzen aufs Lager in Thon poussiret, davon eine sitzend, die andere aber, wie sie eine Maus im Moule hat, vorgestellt ist." See Ulrich Pietsch, Die Arbeitsberichte des Meissener Porzellanmodelleurs Johann Joachim Kaendler 1706-1775 (2002) p.41. The cat with the mouse is also illustrated by Carl Albiker, Die Meissner Porzellantiere im 18. Jahrhundert (1959), no. 216. Another unmounted cat of this type was sold in these rooms, 3 December 2008, lot 240A.

Category: Decorative Arts / European Ceramics

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Specialist - European Ceramics