A Rare Folk Art Articulated Cat Box

An Exotic Cargo: A French Majolica Camel-Form Lidded Box, St. Amand, Circa 1870 This charming French majolica lidded box is a delightful example of the imaginative and naturalistic forms that characterized 19th-century majolica production. Crafted by the St. Amand pottery in circa 1870, the piece is a sculptural rendering of a seated camel, a subject that would have appealed to the era's fascination with exoticism and global trade. The camel is naturalistically colored and rests on a raised, mottled green ground, suggesting a desert landscape. The lid of the box is formed by the camel's loaded pack, which is meticulously detailed with a variety of goods. This top section is removable, revealing a square, hollow interior in a contrasting light blue glaze—a small, hidden surprise. The impressed mark "St Ad" on the base confirms its origin from the Saint-Amand-les-Eaux pottery. This pottery, which was active from the 17th century to 1920, was renowned for its high-quality, brightly colored tin-glazed earthenware, a technique known as faience in France. St. Amand's work, often featuring rich glazes and creative forms, was widely exported and highly sought after for both tableware and decorative objects. Majolica, with its vibrant glazes and playful designs, saw a resurgence in popularity in the mid-19th century, particularly in England and France. This camel-form box is a perfect example of how the pottery of this period moved beyond purely functional forms to create whimsical and narrative pieces. It reflects a world increasingly connected by trade and travel, where images of distant lands and their inhabitants entered the domestic sphere. This piece, from a private New York collection and with a provenance tracing to Jesse Davis Antiques...

Rustic Charm in Refined Form: An 18th-Century Creamware Red-Printed Tea Caddy, Circa 1765–75 This charming 18th-century creamware tea caddy, also known as a teapoy, is a beautiful ...