Minton Majolica Teapot "Cat & Mouse"

"Cat & Mouse Majolica Teapot, blue drakkar-shaped. The bow of the boat forming the spout, the boat is decorated on sides with a mice frieze. On the yellow handle a red and white cat is staring a mouse holding a carrot that decorates the removable lid. 

Reedition of a famous Minton majolica production circa 1870. Limited and numbered edition, signed and numbered 1085/2500.

"Minton was founded in 1793 and became the foremost ceramic factory in Europe in the Victorian era. Today Minton continues to enjoy a reputation as a leading producer of bone china tableware and special commissions. Among the innovations introduced by the factory were pâte-sur-pâte, acid gold, Parian statuary, encaustic tiles and Majolica. Majolica, named after the island of Majorca, was developed by Leon Arnoux around 1849 and first exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851. The bright coloured glazes, vigorous modelling and humour in the designs greatly attracted the Victorians and sales were so high that the factory could hardly keep pace with demand. Majolica helped to promote Minton's world-wide commercial and artistic reputation, one which was not easily surpassed. The 'Cat and Mouse Teapot' originally produced in the late 1860s, is probably the most desirable of all the Minton Majolica teapots because of its rarity on the antique market plus the added appeal of the naturalistically modelled cat! In this example the dynamic combination of exuberant modelling, humour and rich glazes epitomises the true essence of Majolica."