An elegant pair of ‘Jackfield’ type black glazed figures of cats sitting on cushions. Terracotta earthenware body completely glazed with a thick opaque black glaze, including the hollow base and foot. The left hand figure retains small amounts of very pale blue or white enamel and gold gilding for the eyes. There is also a little gilding present on the cushion. The right hand figure has no traces of enamel or gilding. The front legs are free-standing and added to the press-moulded bodies. The bases are also press-moulded separately to the bodies and joined. Both cats are unmarked (as usual) but are almost certainly made in Staffordshire rather than Jackfield in Shropshire. English.
Pot ID: AP/1653 and AP/1145
Dimensions: Left cat: 183 mm high to top of ears. Right cat: 179 mm high to top of ears.
Net Weight (grams): Left cat: 438. Right cat: 479.
Date: c.1865-1885
Condition Report:
Left cat: Chip on inside rim of base is painted over. Two shallow flake chips on lower outer edge of base plus a fleabite. Gilding is worn.
Right cat: Very small chips under each base corner. One corner of base has a tiny restoration (chip filled and painted).
