Jack Kerouac Personally Owned Curios Representing 3 Important Influences: Roman Catholicism, Japanese Culture, & Cats

Five decorative arts personally owned by Jack Kerouac (1922-1969), the famous mid-century writer who brought us On the Road (1959), and which probably once crowded his writing desk. Provenance: The items will be accompanied by an estate certification signed by John Shen-Sampas, executer of the Kerouac Estate by descent. John Shen-Sampas is the son of John Sampas, who was the brother-in-law of Jack Kerouac, and the brother of Stella Kerouac, Jack's wife.

The five pieces, which range from devotional objects to figurines, represent collectively three of the most significant influences on Kerouac's personal and professional life: his Roman Catholic faith; his fascination with Japanese culture; and his love of cats.

Kerouac was a devoted Roman Catholic during his lifetime. Though this may seem to contradict his lifestyle, which was notoriously iconoclastic, his faith was intense and instilled in him by his beloved French-Canadian mother, Gabrielle-Ange Lévesque (1895-1973). Kerouac equally embraced Japanese culture when he discovered that it provided Americans with a viable spiritual and cultural alternative to strict social mores. Kerouac's own interest in Zen Buddhism culminated in his Some of the Dharma (1955-56) and Dharma Bums (1958), and he also experimented with haiku poetry. Kerouac's love of cats is well-documented. His favorite cat, a Persian calico named Tyke, appears in his novel Big Sur (1962).

Period photographs of Kerouac's desk space, as well as the state of his desk found in his last home at 5169 10th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, Florida show that Kerouac worked at a table surface cluttered with items of diverse and sentimental value: religious icons, family photos, and miscellaneous tchotchkes. It is not unreasonable to assume, then, that these objects surrounded Jack while he worked. His eyes might have rested on any one of these pieces while he searched for the right word…

The lot includes:

1. Hand-painted plastic framed bas relief icon of the Medal of the Immaculate Conception (aka Miraculous Medal) with easel support verso, ca. 1950, Italian. Scattered minor surface loss and reinforced with masking tape verso. 5.5" dia.

2. Italian copy of the Infant Jesus of Prague, ca. 1950. Isolated surface loss to the orb, right hand, left cheek, and crown, else very good. 3" high.

3. Devotional object comprised of a crucifix mounted on a Lucite base stamped "Florida" at top and decorated with seashells, ca. 1950. Isolated loss the appliques, and expected yellowing, else very good. 2.25" high.

4.  Kokeshi type hand-painted wooden bobble/nodder head doll, ca. 1950. Expected wear, else near fine. 4.75" high.

5. Hand-painted ceramic cat figurine wearing red bow. Overall crazing consistent with age. Detached back right foot is included. 2.75" high. (Did one of Kerouac's real cats swipe this figurine off the desk and break it?)

See a photo of Jack's desk space attached.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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