Does anyone recognize this cat? initials on bottom, etc.

Hi, I purchased this cat figurine at a yard sale a while back. It only cost a few dollars and I like cats. I'm just confused as to the purpose. The person that sold it to me only said that it was "vintage French pottery" and that it was a "liquor pitcher"? It is somewhat small, only about 6" across, maybe 4" high (approximately). But it does have some markings on the bottom, I'm not sure if it should be WW or MM? Has anyone else heard of a "liquor pitcher" in terms of pottery and hand painted cats? This may be easy to solve to a pro that knows what WW? or MM? signifies - thanks in advance!

 

It does look like French faience ware, and I found a link to another, I think some people here have a WP account so can tell you what it fetched.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-vintage-french-faience-pottery-cat

Doesn't help with the maker though.

 

Found it now, the logo is MMA, Metropolitan Museum of Arts, so it's a museum replica piece.

 

Hi,
I agree with the MMA mark. I would know it anywhere. It looks like a creamer.
greg

 

Yes, a bit like the cow creamers common in the UK I guess. As a museum replica piece it seems to be done pretty well, even down to the long craze lines you find on French faience sometimes.

 

Yet it has no handle and would be impossible to clean.

 

I guess it's plenty small enough to hold in the hand, and in the 19th century (when these were original) food standards weren't an issue. They used arsenic to colour things including some cake decorations! And look up the history of penny lick glasses for a real treat down disease lane.

 

It might have been used as a plant waterer.

 

WP says that one sold for $41 in 2008.

 

It would be difficult to fill up without making a mess. I'm still voting for--I don't know--liqueur? MMA had some book shaped faience ones, but they had only the one hole, for a stopper. Two holes is problematic for my theory.