Featured Kutani cat? Meiji? What did I buy?

This was at the thrift. I felt it had some nice quality so purchased it even though one of the ceramic bells on the collar has broken off. Numbers embossed on base.

Doing a bit of research I came across similar with keywords "Kutani" and "Meiji". I would not have thought that old, and there seems to be a range for these. But have to say mine feels like it has some quality and the embossed numbers on the base made me take a chance. I found it's exact match listed as Kutani Meiji, for a pretty high asking price (taking that with a grain of salt, link at end of post), but there are a number somewhat similar in the several hundred dollar asking price range, but then ones that don't seem to have the same quality or are smaller with similar keywords for less. I know absolutely ZERO about these, actually put it in my cart right away, noticed the damage on the bell, put it back on the shelf and then when making a 2nd loop around the store saw it again just said, "this thing has some quality" and back in the cart it went.






Former owner had some kind of protection tape on the base, but it is crumbling off.


Close up of the number on the base:



Missing bell:




Here is the link, this guy is very close, with slightly different coloring on the fur:

https://www.rubylane.com/item/586567-RL-0001228/Large-Antique-19th-century-Japanese-Meiji

Has anyone ever handled anything like this? Curious what I bought. Thanks!

 

I don't know how accurate they are but when I enter the number on the base I get Heubach cats.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/life-size-heubach-porcelain-figure-of-sleeping-cat


https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-heubach-lg-silver-tiger-tabby-53049270

 

No idea, there seem to be others they say are Kutani such as this one that seems to be numbered the same. Confusing so hopefully someone will have a real answer.



https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/41451889_sleeping-cat

 

I am not a cat person but that third photo down is just absolutely adorable!!!

 

CCL here. Absolutely beautiful. Me wantee

 

@say_it_slowly thank you for those links. It didn't occur to me to google the number, just thought chances would be slim of the number turning up anything. Great idea to do that!

Obviously the missing bell impacts value, but there are zero chips to the ears and the rest is really in excellent shape.

I'm continuing my research. I wonder if anyone has a LiveAuctioneers account or maybe @Kronos could check that first WP link that makes the Heubach connection. Just trying to get a ballpark of value, then of course will adjust for the damage.

It does have a very realistic look about it. Thank you all for the help!

 

The worthpoint ones went for: $261 (2008) and $175 (2012).

Liveauctioneer one went for $966.

 

@Kronos. Super helpful as always! Thank you!

 

Firstly check what it is made of, Kutani is always porcelain, so if it is pottery then that pretty much rules it out from the get-go. It would also be very unusual for a pre WW2 Japanese item to have Western numerals incised to the base, which again pretty much rules out it being Meiji.

Here is one that does say Japan :

https://www.chairish.com/product/2674383/1920s-japanese-kutani-porcelain-cat-6

They listed it as 1920's, but I think it is much more likely to be post war having 'Made in Japan' on it.

I think @say_it_slowly has it right and it is German. This looks like one of those cases where items are easily mixed up due to commonalities. Interesting the one link SiS posted said Kutani, but then the telling comment 'from a German collection'.

 

Thanks, Ce BCA. I think porcelain. The attached collar bells might be more like pottery, but could be wrong. Do they ever mix pottery and porcelain in a piece?

The Japan one in the link is 6" rather than 10" and slightly different in shape. But this is exactly one of the confusions I was having. There seems to be a variety of these out there, in smaller shapes, etc.

It's an interesting puzzle for sure. Thank you!

 

Unlikely as they would have a different shrinkage rate in the kiln (and thus crack when fired).

If the bell was thick enough porcelain it would be opaque, if you can see translucency through the body then it is porcelain/china.

 

Just wondering if this area on the base might actually say something though it could just be a reflection.

Also found an aquamarine cat marked Czechoslovakia with a similar looking molded face (at least looks similar) though very different base and another more modern cat by Goebel in a different reverse pose though the base looks similar. Copy of a Japanese cat owned by Claude Monet.



https://www.ebay.com/itm/2940332294...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557



https://www.ebay.com/itm/2940332294...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

same as imari

 

You might send a photo to a good auction house and ask. Here is a page of Kutani cats at Christie's and some certainly seem like yours. Unfortunately they don't include base photos.

https://www.christies.com/lotfinder...TANI, 20TH CENTURY&searchtype=p&action=search