$30,000
Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000
English & Continental Furniture & Decorative Arts
Auction: October 7, 2014 11:00:00 AM EDT
The teapot, shape 1924, surmounted by an upraised handle supporting a cat as it watches a mouse eating a carrot atop the cover below, the cobalt ground body molded with a frieze of alternating mice and rosettes to each side, impressed Minton 622, with registration lozenge to underside dated 1875; the creamer, shape 239, surmounted by a squirrel enjoying a nut, unaware of the fox bearing its head through medallions on either side of the cobalt ground body, the base impressed Mintons, 623 with year cypher for 1877; the sugar bowl and cover surmounted by a bird form finial and ornamented with brown glazed diaper ground panels to the cobalt body, the base impressed 830, with under glaze painted marks. (3).
H: 7 3/4, W: 7 1/2, D: 4 in. (teapot)Provenance: Property from the collection of Debra and I. Michael Coslov, Haverford, PA.
By bringing together motifs of creatures at odds in the natural world, Minton created works fraught with animated tension. A fine example of this is the flat iron teapot, in which a cat patiently awaits the right moment to pounce on a mouse enjoying a carrot below. A creamer, likely an accompaniment to the teapot, depicts a squirrel enjoying his nut unaware of the threat of nearby foxes peeking through medallions on the frieze below. The design for this teapot is attributed to Christopher Dresser by Karmason & Stacke. The sugar bowl and cover is similar in design and color palette and may also be related.
LITERATURE: Marilyn G. Karmason, Joan B. Stacke. Majolica: A Complete History and Illustrated Survey. Henry N. Abrams, New York, 1989. pg. 52 (illustrated on cover).