Author Topic: Plichta Cat (Read 28331 times)

cstein · « **Reply #20 on:** March 18, 2008, 09:30:49 PM »

Please do think outloud! That is how we learn. You make a very interesting point about the possible reason no one seems to have ever seen a polka dotted cat. I would never have thought of that.
I think I understand the basic mechanics of what makes a piece craze. But, I can picture it better with regard to your tea cup. The rapid temperature change causing expansion or shrinkage resulting in a glaze that no longer "fits" correctly. What I can't picture is how that same theory applies to a cat who has certainly never been filled with hot tea. A real head scratcher...
Thank you for your continued posts and answering my questions. I am going to leave to get my husband from work. We are down to 1 car this week because last Wednesday a teenager pulled out in front of me and as a result totaled my truck! This is why I haven't been able to accomplish something as simple as getting my camera back. We are pressed for time to begin with, then take one car out of the picture and bad things happen!
Thanks to all for your patience!
Cathy

josordoni · « **Reply #21 on:** March 18, 2008, 10:11:19 PM »

Quote

The rapid temperature change causing expansion or shrinkage resulting in a glaze that no longer "fits" correctly. What I can't picture is how that same theory applies to a cat who has certainly never been filled with hot tea. A real head scratcher...

Hi! Over the years, some porcelain bodies will carry on shrinking slightly. If this is at a different rate to the glaze, then you will get crazing on the piece. This will be very even and all over, different to the individual lines that you get from heat or cold, and is often desirable if the piece has modern copies available as these will not be showing the even fine crazing of an older piece - rather like patination on a wooden or bronze item. Particularly you will see it like granulation in the creases of an item where the glaze is thicker.

Hope this helps.

cstein · « **Reply #22 on:** March 19, 2008, 10:31:05 AM »

Thanks for the further explanation Lynne,
I would never have thought that crazing could be desirable. It makes sense that what you call "fine crazing" (which is a perfect description for my cats surface) might be desirable as a means to separate new knockoffs from the real deal. The crazing on my cat is all over and even. As even as crazing can be I suppose!

I am sure all of you are starting to wonder if I have a camera! Well, I do, and today, no matter what, I am getting it back. I will make the time today, no matter what.

I will take as many angles as possible so that perhaps this crazing will show and then you can judge for yourself. If there is any certain shot that any of you might want please email me or post your request here. Is there a limit to how many pix a person can post?

I had also read quite a bit about the makers marks on these cats. I don't know how much this will tell anyone but mine says: Plichta, London, England, Hand Painted.

I am really excited to get photos of her up for everyone to see. I am looking forward to hearing everyone's opinion's. It should prove to be a good time!
Cathy
PS. Something exciting happened yesterday. I had written to the person who is listed on the Sotheby's site as the resident ceramics and porcelain expert. I wrote to her on a lark, never thinking that someone at Sotheby's would really be interested in my cat and bother to write back to me. Well.... She did! She wrote back late yesterday and she wants pictures!

Sue C · « **Reply #23 on:** March 19, 2008, 10:37:56 AM »

How exciting for you Cathy! please let us know what she said.

cstein · « **Reply #24 on:** March 19, 2008, 10:38:59 AM »

The woman at Sotheby's who wrote to me is named Georgiana Bruce. She is the Valuation Manager, Sotheby's Scotland.

Are any of you familiar with her?
Cathy

Sue C · « **Reply #25 on:** March 19, 2008, 10:40:52 AM »

No, but if she is the valuation manager for Sothebys, she must know her stuff.

josordoni · « **Reply #26 on:** March 19, 2008, 10:41:16 AM »

You need to take a pic of the base, one of the front and back complete, and a close up of the face with the glass eyes. These should be sufficient for Sotheby's too, she'll let you know if she needs anything else.

The glass eyes cats are much more desirable than the ones with later eyes, and are usually earlier. The big money is on the signed Galle cats with glass eyes - always too expensive for me those ones! Wemyss also produced Galle Style cats that are very desirable, and yours may be one of these.
The Galle is the same Galle of France who makes the beautiful cameo glass, and one of his large ones with blue hearts on a yellow background sold in the US for just under $8000 in 1999, and it is not unusual for them to make around that figure.

The Wemyss ones are later, and are also being produced by Griselda Hill as reproductions.

http://www.wemyssware.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

I also found this listing for Sotheby's for a Wemyss sale:

http://www.antiques-scotland.co.uk/sothebys/sothebys_glen02/soth_glen02_wemyss.htm

if you look at item no. 393, this is a Plichta signed Galle cat - good price!

Which shape is yours - like the first Plichta's at the top, or like this Galle Plichta at the bottom?

cstein · « **Reply #27 on:** March 19, 2008, 10:41:34 AM »

It is exciting Sue! I don't want to read too much in to it, but do you think she would write back if she didn't think it might be worth her time?
By that I mean is she interested because she is looking for a consignment? Aren't the fees from an auction house through the roof?
It would seem that a person would have to have an item of some value to make employing an auction house worth its fee.
What do you think?
Cathy

josordoni · « **Reply #28 on:** March 19, 2008, 10:43:36 AM »

p.s. the serious collectors for Wemyss are still in Scotland - you could ask Sotheby's if they prove to be interested if this should be sold at their Edinburgh office.

josordoni · « **Reply #29 on:** March 19, 2008, 10:45:02 AM »

Quote from: cstein on March 19, 2008, 10:41:34 AM

It is exciting Sue! I don't want to read too much in to it, but do you think she would write back if she didn't think it might be worth her time?
By that I mean is she interested because she is looking for a consignment? Aren't the fees from an auction house through the roof?
It would seem that a person would have to have an item of some value to make employing an auction house worth its fee.
What do you think?
Cathy

1) yes the fees for Sotheby's are high. But the prices they get are also high!

2) There is Plichta Wemyss and Plichta Wemyss.... she would want to look at the pics before giving even the faintest hint as to whether she is interested.

cstein · « **Reply #30 on:** March 19, 2008, 10:46:13 AM »

Lynn,
I believe that my cat is what is known at the "Thinking Cat" pose. She is very regal and sedate looking. Not at all like the whimsical silly looking cats from the Wemyss site.
She is in the exact pose of the cats listed as Plichta. With the huge difference being that she is polka dotted, not painted with cabbage roses or clovers or thistle.
What do you think?
Cathy

josordoni · « **Reply #31 on:** March 19, 2008, 10:48:11 AM »

How tall is she?

cstein · « **Reply #32 on:** March 19, 2008, 10:48:56 AM »

Well, I am off to get my husband to work and my son to school. From school I am going to make a bee line straight to my mother-in-laws.
Hopefully she won't be too "chatty", so I can get back here with the camera quickly, and get this show on the road!
Cathy

cstein · « **Reply #33 on:** March 19, 2008, 10:50:11 AM »

One last post before I go...
She is a good foot tall Lynne. I have seen some real minis posted in different places on the Net.
She is not a kitten, she is a full grown cat!
Cathy

josordoni · « **Reply #34 on:** March 19, 2008, 10:52:11 AM »

Good size, and should be worth more than a cup of tea!

Fingers crossed for you...

josordoni · « **Reply #35 on:** March 19, 2008, 10:53:54 AM »

Anne - can we combine all the links into one thread when we have got as far as we can over here?

cstein · « **Reply #36 on:** March 19, 2008, 05:30:22 PM »

Here she is! The elusive polka dotted cat. I have several shots but due to the file size it appears that I have to upload them one at a time.
Cathy

cstein · « **Reply #37 on:** March 19, 2008, 05:31:05 PM »

Next shot...

cstein · « **Reply #38 on:** March 19, 2008, 05:31:50 PM »

Next...

cstein · « **Reply #39 on:** March 19, 2008, 05:32:37 PM »

OK, there are some pictures. I have to shoot the makers mark picture again. It didn't come out too good.
Cathy