Retro Ice Skaters Appraisal

Mid-Century Ceramic Ice Skating Figurines (Boy, Girl, and Cat)

This set consists of three vintage ceramic figurines depicting a winter ice-skating scene, consistent with Japanese imports from the late 1940s to early 1950s. The set includes a girl in a red sweater and black pants, a boy who has fallen wearing a green scarf and yellow pants, and an anthropomorphic white cat on skates with a blue scarf. These pieces are crafted from cold-painted or underglaze decorated earthenware with a glossy finish. The figurines feature the soft, rounded 'kawaii' aesthetics typical of post-WWII Napco or Lefton-style exports. The girl stands approximately 4 inches tall on a textured white 'ice' base, while the boy is in a dynamic reclining pose. The cat is missing a base and stands independently on its skates. The hand-painted facial features include stylized oversized eyes and rosy cheeks. While no specific maker’s mark is visible from the top view, they often bore gold foil stickers or 'Japan' stamps on the unfinished bottom. The condition appears fair to good for the estimated age of 75 years; there is visible crazing in the glaze, minor paint loss (flea bites) on the boy's skates and the girl's cap, and a general layer of surface dust. The craftsmanship demonstrates the high-volume but charming hand-detailing reflective of mid-century giftware.