Lustreware Cat Appraisal

Vintage Japanese Art Deco Cubist Lustreware Cat and Mouse Figurine/Pincushion Vase

This small-scale decorative object is a unique piece of Japanese export lustreware from the Art Deco period, likely dating to the 1920s or 1930s. It features a highly stylized, cubist-inspired seated cat with angular, geometric features and a flat-topped head. The cat is finished in a pearlescent lustre glaze in a cream-yellow hue, accented by a bold reddish-orange collar or band around its neck. It sits upon a mottled green base, which also features a small, black-glazed mouse positioned at the cat's feet. The item serves a dual or triple purpose: as a standalone figurine, a small bud vase (denoted by the opening in the top of the head), or a pincushion holder. The material is a fine porcelain or bone china, evidenced by the light weight and translucent quality often found in Japanese exports of this era. On the underside, a distinct red hand-stamped mark reads 'MADE IN JAPAN,' confirming its origin during the inter-war period of high trade between Japan and Western markets. The condition appears to be excellent for its age, showing typical minor glaze crazing and slight shelf wear on the unglazed base rim, but no visible chips, cracks, or significant loss to the fragile lustre finish. The craftsmanship is characteristic of the 'Nippon' and post-Nippon era factories that specialized in whimsical, geometric novelties for the international market.