Description

Unique Découpaged Treen Pot

This quirky yet quality piece is another of those little mysteries that we’re so fond of at Thrilled Kitty. The small pot itself is of a fine dark wood, possibly walnut, well-turned and of some age, with a pleasingly flared form. The inside bottom of the pot is felt-lined, as is the base. At some point a person well-adept at découpage has painstakingly decorated the pot with nine tiny cats, finishing the piece with a coat of clear varnish or lacquer. We think that the images are the work of Martin Leman, the well-known London cat artist.

When the two came together we simply can’t say, but the tiny amount of crazing visible in the varnish on close inspection suggests that it was done quite some time ago. We have estimated a date of the 1980s, but this is just our best guess based on the probable publication date of the Martin Leman images: an item this unusual defies precise dating! The pot itself may be significantly older.

This little pot has a diameter of approximately 5cm at the widest point, and around 4cm at the opening and base. It stands about 5cm tall from base to finial and has an internal depth of about 1.5cm, making it the perfect size to store a ring or similarly-sized precious item.

Condition Report: In very good vintage order, with very light wear in keeping with age and use. The pot is intact with no splits or cracks in the wood. The lid is intact and fits well. Découpage work is complete and in good condition.