The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of May 14, 2024

Sleeping Cat

Sleeping Cat

early to mid-1800s
(1615–1868)
Porcelain with overglaze color enamel and gold (Hizen ware)
Overall: 9.5 x 14.6 cm (3 3/4 x 5 3/4 in.)
Severance and Greta Millikin Collection 1964.255
Location: 235A Japanese

Description

Models of sleeping cats with collars and bells like this one were popular as decorative objects, and some of them also served as incense burners or hand warmers. This cat was just for display and has very carefully incised lines in the surface of the clay body, as well as thin strokes of orange and gold over the glaze to create the sense of soft fur.
  • John L. Severance [1863–1936], Cleveland, OH, to his relatives, Severance and Greta Millikin
    ?–1964
    Severance A. [1895–1985] and Greta [Marguerite Steckerl] Millikin [1903–1989], Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1964–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Monet, Claude, and David Bromfield. Monet & Japan. Canberra: National Gallery of Australia, 2001. cat. no. 129, p. 200
  • Animals in Japanese Art (Japanese art rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (June 24-December 10, 2023).
    Main Asian Rotation (Gallery 236). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (April 19-December 24, 2013).
    Monet & Japan. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia (organizer) (March 10-June 11, 2001); Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth (June 29-September 16, 2001).
    The Severance and Greta Millikin Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (July 5-September 2, 1990).
  • {{cite web|title=Sleeping Cat|url=false|author=|year=early to mid-1800s|access-date=14 May 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1964.255