Mystery- Marble cat figurine

Discussion in 'Art' started by Cassiopeia, Jan 8, 2018.

  1. Cassiopeia

    Cassiopeia New Member

    I recently acquired this cat figurine. I'm trying to find out more about it. The cat is 7 inches tall and weighs 29 ounces. I'm pretty sure that it's marble as water beads form on the surface and the surface is smooth and polished. I can't tell if there is a mark on the bottom or if it's an indentation. I'll take additional pictures of the cat tomorrow.

    I'd really appreciate it if you helped me to find out more about the cat. I spent a few hours the other day trying to find out the style and approximate age and I just ended up confused without any answers.


    IMG_7226 (1).jpg
     
  2. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Welcome to the forum, Cassiopeia.
    Could we see more pictures, side view, back, base?
    It doesn't look like marble to me, ceramic, alabaster maybe?
     
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  3. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    Resin.

    Cat’s name: “Spot.”
     
  4. silverthwait

    silverthwait Well-Known Member

  5. verybrad

    verybrad Well-Known Member

    Looks like soapstone to me.
     
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  6. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I think there is a craft centre in Kenya that sells carved soapstone animal figures with painted decorations.
     
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  7. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    These are still currently being sold.
    Any New Age stores around you? You might drop in and see if they are selling anything similar.
     
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  8. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    I don't think it's soapstone or resin. I can't find the name. It's a very fine grained soft sedimentary stone. I'm sure I had the name once, but I've lost it. I keep thinking of it as loess, or loess in origin, but that doesn't give any joy.
     
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  9. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    I’d reserve my “serious” opinion until after I’ve seen the underside. That should give good insight into both the material and the sex of the feline.
     
  10. all_fakes

    all_fakes Well-Known Member

    I think Any Jewelry is correct as to the African/Kenyan origin. I believe the importers do call it soapstone, but it does not look like the rock that is called soapstone in most parts of the world. A local name is "Kisii stone," apparently from the tribe and city in Kenya.
    Rock names, and wood, and plant names, to mention three, are highly variable from nation to nation; it is the reason that botanists and woodworkers like to use the latin names for plants and wood, and the mineralogical or chemical terms for rocks (MgO)3(SiO2)4).
    Compare this from http://www.4africanamericangifts.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?category=Art&subcategory=Soapstone

    cats.jpg
     
  11. all_fakes

    all_fakes Well-Known Member

  12. springfld.arsenal

    springfld.arsenal Store: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/

    Where are the additional photos please?
     
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