German ceramic calico cat bottle early 20th C

A molded figure of a cat painted with a shiny, slick white base glaze that has been painted over with spots of red and black approximating the spots on a calico cat. The cat has cat’s eyes are green with black slits.

 

The figure is light and thinly molded. You can see the mold lines near the bottle opening. The figure shows well defined tail, fur, feet, and elongated fur on the chest. The head, which separates from the body, shows well defined ears, eyes, nose and mouth. The head fastens to the body at a slant with a circular hole in the head and a raised mouth on the body. A cork holds the head to the body.

 

There is a mark on the unglazed white base. It is a stamped black marking and reads GERMANY and has an incised number 23. There are no more marks or labels.

 

W 7 ½” (19.1 cm) tall x 5 ½” (14.0 cm) long x 3 1/8” (7.9 cm) wide. Weighs 12. 2 oz (345 g)

 

There are no cracks. There may have been a repair to the black ear. There is a tiny chip on the brown ear. There are kiln flaws in the glaze such as pimples, gouges in the clay, pin holes, crazing on the white glaze and imperfections on painted areas. The cork is newer and was likely a replacement. You can see a little bit of glue residue around the cork, and the base of the head. Both of these are hidden when the head is on. The cat shows very well and looks fresh and new.   

  

A long-lived antique cat that has hasn’t used all its 9 lives yet. She’s very cute!