Ceramic Decor Appraisal

Black Panther and Figural Mid-Century Ceramic Decor Set

This collection features three pieces of mid-century ceramic decor, predominantly rendered in a glossy black glaze. The central and largest piece is a striking black panther figurine, depicted in a stalking or poised posture with its head raised and mouth open, revealing painted teeth and what appears to be gold or brass accents around the muzzle. It wears an elaborate collar adorned with red, yellow, and possibly green circular embellishments, interconnected by a silver-toned chain that extends towards a smaller, recumbent black panther figure. This smaller panther lies flat, seemingly connected to the larger one. Both panther figures exhibit sleek, stylized forms characteristic of mid-century ceramic animal sculptures. The third piece is a figural vase or planter, possibly depicting a female figure in an art deco or tribal style, holding a cylindrical vessel. This figure is also uniformly black, with gold-painted accents on her hair/headpiece and around the rim of the vessel she holds. A manufacturing label or sticker is visible on the gold rim of the vessel. All pieces are crafted from ceramic with a high-gloss black finish. The context indicates this is a 'Joan Lea creation'. The overall condition of the large panther and the figural piece is stated to be excellent, while the small panther has a 'crack on tail', which would be a notable condition issue affecting its value. The combination of styles and glossy black finish suggests a mid-20th century aesthetic, likely from the 1940s to 1960s, a period when such decorative ceramics were popular. The craftsmanship appears to be commercially produced, with attention to detail in the painted accents and glazes.