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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: KevinM on September 20, 2013, 08:41:39 AM

Title: This Old Cat?
Post by: KevinM on September 20, 2013, 08:41:39 AM

I purchased this old cat from the TS a few months ago and as wondering if anyone knows anything about it.

I think it's made out of some type of black slate, shale or stone. It measures about 4 1/2 inches in length and about 3 1/4 inches in height.

Does anyone know where and when it may have been made?

Thanks!
Kevin

(http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/3745/fgpm.jpg)

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: mariok54 on September 20, 2013, 10:27:25 AM

it is difficult to see the texture of the back, but has this been molded from a cast? It seems to have been coated as there are signs of it bleeding to the rear

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: mart on September 20, 2013, 12:48:26 PM

Hot pin test ??  Looks like a stylized leopard !! Ears too short for housecat !!

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: bigwull on September 20, 2013, 01:23:18 PM

Looks like a piece of Inuit Art.....

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: mart on September 20, 2013, 02:47:28 PM

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://wag.ca/uploads/collections/1953.71_small.jpg%3Ft%3D1286917977&imgrefurl=http://wag.ca/art/art-search/category:Sculpture&usg=__3jE9t18dm2HF_AIRsalBSyANB6Y=&h=230&w=230&sz=8&hl=en&start=14&zoom=1&tbnid=JDX9eGLsSZ7zPM:&tbnh=108&tbnw=108&ei=pLM8Uo7nA5a34AOAiICICA&itbs=1&sa=X&ved=0CEcQrQMwDQ

Kind of looks similar style !!

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: KevinM on September 20, 2013, 08:09:36 PM

It's not a resin, hot pin test failed. It's definitely some type of black stone like slate, it weighs about 12 ounces. It's a bit shinny on the top & top front area like it had been polished at one time. The front is hazy from light wear / scratches. The back resembles the rough side of cut black slate. I seem to remember that in the 1800's or early 1900's there was a black stone mined to make figurines and other things somewhere perhaps in the middle east, I'm not sure.

It's also definitely not molded from a cast or anything else, it's hand carved for sure. Mart, you're link you gave I can't bring up, it's way too heavy with lots of images, your network must be a lot faster than my slow network but thanks for it I just wish I could have seen what you were referencing.

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: mart on September 20, 2013, 08:28:33 PM

I am on dial up !!  No system is slower than mine !!  Try googling "small carved slate crouching cat" then click Images, when the first page comes up scroll down,, the one I caw was an eagle with a person or something !! Couldn`t see it in detail !! It just kind of looked similar !!  I couldn`t see it all either !!

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: KevinM on September 20, 2013, 08:39:02 PM

Mart, I'm on dialup too, about 3.5 kb per second. The page is too large for my slow network.

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: KevinM on September 20, 2013, 08:41:16 PM

Bigwull, don't know if it's Inuit, I'm not sure. I thought I remembered that you liked native American Indian pottery. I picked this one up from the TS today for $1.90, seemed like a good deal. I haven't tried to research it yet. I'm starting to get a collection of these types of pots.

(http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/9420/v1xp.jpg)

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: mart on September 20, 2013, 09:06:06 PM

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bernice-watchman-Navajo-Handmade-Pottery-Vase-/251323800490

Here you go !! Value not a lot but likely more than what you paid !!  She does nice work !!

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: mart on September 20, 2013, 09:12:44 PM

https://www.google.com/search?q=small+carved+slate+crouching+cat&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=7g09Usn-IpTb4AOch4HAAw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1600&bih=662&dpr=1

This is the google page for the carving I was talking about !! Scroll down till you find the eagle !! It just has a similar look to it !!  Think its a Canadian site !!

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: fancypants on September 20, 2013, 09:25:32 PM

This 'cat' item is not Inuit , nor an antique item , KevinM .


As to the material it's made from ....well .... pretty sure it's not stone (unless it's very very soft) ... only (as stonemasons/stonecutters call it) 'bastard' stone (talc , Gypsum , ect.) could be soft enough to use tools such as those that left the striated tool-marks on the back of your item ... even soft stone such as alabaster or onyx (etc.) couldn't be cut in such a manner .

The toolmarks on the back sure do look like those that would be left by a tool resembling a putty knife , as for use in resins , faux/cultured-stone or clay , rather than a stone chisel !

I'd put my guess (considering its' design) as asian manufacture , as a decorative/crafty 'native' item . Looks like the leopard/jaguar was hand-embellished , perhaps after the material had dried & been coated/glazed .

I'd be sorry to say that this one won't fund your retirement , though ...

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: KevinM on September 20, 2013, 11:06:30 PM

Mart, thanks for the links and reply. Yes, she does do nice work, that's why I purchased it, I really like the detail in this one.

fancypants, don't be sorry, I'm not looking for funding to retire.... :)

Anyways, like I was saying, it's definitely some type of black rock like slate of some type, I've handled more slate in my lifetime than I've wanted to.

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slate

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: mariok54 on September 21, 2013, 12:32:05 AM

When I first saw it I was thinking Soapstone, and so all you Canadians out there would have recognised it straight off ... but then the back worried me.

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: mart on September 21, 2013, 07:50:52 AM

Me too Mario !! I tend to agree with Fancypants on the tool marks !!  Not normal for stone nor are the marks in the carving !!  I was wondering if it was done with a dremel !!

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: KevinM on September 21, 2013, 08:02:56 AM

BTW, it's also very cold to the touch. I'm sure it's not a resin or composite.

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: bigwull on September 21, 2013, 09:04:29 AM

Quote from: mart on September 20, 2013, 08:28:33 PM

I am on dial up !!  No system is slower than mine !!  Try googling "small carved slate crouching cat" then click Images, when the first page comes up scroll down,, the one I caw was an eagle with a person or something !! Couldn`t see it in detail !! It just kind of looked similar !!  I couldn`t see it all either !!

That,s for sure....but in an emergency  You could always revert back to these guys Mart..... ;D

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: Rauville on September 21, 2013, 09:14:41 AM

Quote from: KevinM on September 21, 2013, 08:02:56 AM

BTW, it's also very cold to the touch. I'm sure it's not a resin or composite.

Reminds me of a piece of Black Pipestone: http://www.rocksandminerals.com/specimens/steatite.htm (http://www.rocksandminerals.com/specimens/steatite.htm)

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: mariok54 on September 21, 2013, 09:18:49 AM

This is a little soapstone figure that I have, compare the underside with the back of your cat

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: mariok54 on September 21, 2013, 10:42:39 AM

I've just Googled him probably for the first time, and that Al Wolf chap certainly was prolific!! maybe he lives in a part of Canada that has loooooonnng winters

Title: Re: This Old Cat?
Post by: KevinM on September 21, 2013, 10:11:24 PM

Rauville, I think you have nailed the type of rock that it is, Steatite (Black Pipestone). It does feel soapy to the touch so I guess it could also be soapstone but I'm thinking Steatite. I've done some searches on it and have found a lot of references for it and carved statues, figurines and other items going way back.

Thanks mariok54 for posting those images, it does resemble the rock I have so I'm not positive if it's one or the other but it looks like there is references to Steatite as soapstone on some sites that I have seen. BTW, I like that soapstone figure you have!