EXCEPTIONAL STRASBURG, VIRGINIA MOLDED AND DECORATED EARTHENWARE CAT FIGURE, lead and manganese glaze over a light yellow slip wash, solid right-facing seated figure with tail to front over the haunches, stamped oval eye-like device delineating eyes, ears and mouth, raised on a conforming base with boldly notched edge. Probably S. Bell & Son, Strasburg, VA. Circa 1890. 5" H, 2 1/4" x 3 1/2" base.
Literature: Closely parallels Manger - Pottery From the Shenandoah and Cumberland Valleys, p. 39.
Provenance: Recently discovered near Roanoke, VA.
Catalogue Note: This cat closely parallels an unglazed example with all-over punched decoration discovered and sold by JSE/GVA on 11/15/08, lot 1001. The glaze seen on the cat offered here is identical to that often seen on a cylindrical pitcher usually bearing an S. Bell & Son stamp; for example see JSE&A, 11/12/11, lot 13. The eye-like decorative device seen on this cat and the example sold by us in 2008 can also be seen on numerous other earthenware figures attributed to the Bell family; for example see Comstock, pp. 232, 233 and Wiltshire, pls. 23 and 25.

Exceptional condition with only a minute glaze flake to ridge of back and front foot, otherwise only very light wear to base corners.