Very Old Hand Carved Wood Cheshire Cat?

[KevinM]

I was getting ready to list this hand carved wood Cheshire Cat that I purchased at the thrift store a couple of months back but thought I had better run this one through the experts.

This cat is almost 10 inches in length and about 5 inches wide between the tips of the feet. It's heavy and I think made out of solid mahogany (correct me on the wood if I'm wrong). The wood seems old and dry as well as the paint.

It's hand carved and painted. If you look closely the wood grain has been nicely used to represent the cats fur. I can't find any clear signature on the cat.

My concerns were that I may be under valuing this cat because I missed something in describing it or identifying the time period or even the wood carver if anyone thinks they may know where to look.

Does any know how old this cat might be from the carving style, paint or the way a Cheshire cat looked at a certain period of time?

Also, who the carver might have been, I know that's a long shot. Also, a ball park value or range? I may be able to determine this if I know some more information about it.

Thanks for any help!
Kevin

[ghopper1924]

Kev:

Nice piece! I'm curious: What makes you think this is a Cheshire Cat as opposed to a tiger cub?

[KC]

Painting style just doesn't look that old to me.  Mid to late 1900's.

I was thinking the same thing ghopper1924....gues s it is one of those things that can appeal to either lover of cats or tigers  - which is a cat for those that want to get hissy about it!   

[bigwull]

Kev:

Nice piece! I'm curious: What makes you think this is a Cheshire Cat as opposed to a tiger cub?

Nowt wrong with that picture,Cheshire Cats were strippy, see here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheshire_Cat

[ghopper1924]

I guess I think of Cheshire Cats as tabbys with huge grins.

To me, this piece looks more like a gamboling tiger cub.

[bigwull]

Gamboling?..........its lying on its back....

[KevinM]

ghopper1924 thanks, I think a tiger cub would have larger feet and legs (cub like), also black stripes over it's chest. Looks more like an older sleeping smiling/happiy cheshire cat to me but I could be mistaken, only the artist knows for sure maybe.

KC, Could certainly be mid 1900's or later. It's the wear to the face and the color of the nose, lips and bottoms of the feet that make me think it may be older. I don't think this is a piece made to look old. The wood on the body's mid section and head and ears is drying out pretty naturally.

bigwull, yes and this is a strippy cat... a strippy cat on his back at that!

[bigwull]

You tell em Tiger!!!!!!   or is it Tigger...I can never remember which....

[mart]

Doesn`t look hand carved,, just hand decorated !! Its all too smooth !! Would it be possible that this was part of a store display??  Dont know why but that what hit me when i looked at it !!

[KevinM]

mart, it's definitely hand carved, it's hard to see in the images but in the tight spots where it would be hard to sand or smooth you can see the carving marks. Also in the ears and the cats pads on the feet have small chiseled like marks that create the carved in or embedded circles around the painted pads on the feet.

You bring up a good point about it being part of perhaps a store display. Whoever carved this was very good at what they did I think. Geez, just look at what some of the chinese and cambodian craftsman use to make, they were excellent.

[mart]

cant see the details in the pic !!  would agree its mahogany !!

[Redfrog42]

I have almost the same cat only mine is arched up in fright. Same coloring, wood, general carving design ect.. I am with whoever said mid 90's art. After really looking mine over I came to the conclusion that while it appeared old it wasn't as old as I first thought.

[Rauville]

I'm sure this carving originated from Indonesia at sometime in the past. I just picked one exporter at random (http://baliparcel.com), and see that they offer 13 pages of carved and painted wooden cat figures to choose from.

[KevinM]

Redfrog42, thanks for the reply, I have searched for months for a wood carved cat like this one. Would you please post a picture of the wood carved cat you have if possible, I would really appreciate it!

Rauville, thanks for checking. I went to the Indonesia baliparcel site and looked at all 13 pages and others. This cat was not listed. None with the same padded feet or facial expression that I could see. Although, anything is possible as to where this cat originated from and when.

I'm about ready to give up on this one all... thanks for all the replies...

[bigwull]

It would appear that Cats are the in thing at the moment....and i,m still of the opinion that its moosh is all Cheshire....