Featured Cultured marble kitty… maybe a museum souvenir?

Spotted today in a PDSA charity shop, and although it was a bit dear for what *I think* is reconstituted stone (£15) I loved the face too much to leave it. Reminds me of how my long-gone cat used to watch me during the wee hours while I struggled to finish my degree.

Anyone recognise where the copy comes from, or recognises the signature?





…and one last irrelevant picture of patient Shelley, hoping we’ll get to bed soon…

 

I like him (and her)!

It does look like a cast. If it is a replica, I expected to find the original through a google or bing image search, but I found none.

What does the bottom look like?

 

Nothing on the bottom, sadly. My mother has similar figures from Museum gift shops with nothing, not even a sticker.


I have googled various permutations of “white, cat, sculpture, souvenir, replica, signature” etc with no joy. Will keep looking - think it might be 1930s style? Thank you for your kind advice @2manybooks

 

Would the original have been Egyptian Revival?
Something Sphinx-like about it, to me.

 

Yes, it looks classic Art Deco, 20s-30s, or at least a copy of. I love it.

Many cats stretch out their front paws in a Sphinx-like manner. One of my cats always used to lie like that. (I always asked her if she was being a Sphinx again.)

 

The exaggeration in the length of the forelimbs, along with the visible claws, seems noteworthy...almost a caricature!

 

All of my cats have acted like caricatures of themselves. One of many things that makes them such fun.

 

Thematically I agree, very likely a copy of something that fed the desire for Egyptian themes.

Two names so far: Michel Decoux and
Noël-Ange Martini. I’m leaning towards the second, but found both by googling “cat sitting like sphinx”, so thank you!

 

Hi AJ! I’m pleased to hear you like it, your taste is consistently refined so you compliment what you like
The pose is part of what makes me think it’s early 20th c style, nothing compact about it like so many older depictions of domestic cats I’ve seen

 

The bottom does look like a decorative replica.

From the position of his ears, he looks a little irritated.

 

Cheesed-off fuzzball.(LOL) I like that.

 

That is a marvelous cat, Van. I know that expression well!

 

Love this sort of statue, it's just right!

 

anyone who's ever had a cat knows that the statue cat is twisting his ears to focus on a noise behind him.

An upset cat will flatten his ears downward...


.
https://iheartcats.com/5-ear-signals-every-cat-owner-should-know/

 

Not finding it either. Take a second look, is the C actually a K with a weak vertical stroke? It could be from the MAK in Vienna, Austria? The right time period for that museum.

Love it. I would have bought it too.

 

That cat is an angry, fearful cat - it would be unwise to approach. The statue cat might be listening to something behind, or may just be annoyed - half way to angry.

I have lived with more than 40 cats over the years. I think I am familiar with their expressions.

 

Oh, I'm sure you are .

All Puss-Cat....all the time !!!!!!

.

 

Thanks Silverbell!

 

Agreed, thanks! Very glad I picked it up

 

Thank you! I took your advice in searching MAK Wien, but no luck yet. Great suggestion though, keeping it in mind for future