Topic: Flambe? glass cat, maker please

[tinmine]

Please can anybody help me, this cat stands 7.25" high in black glass covered with a speckled red I have never come across anything like it before..

[Ivo]

Not glass I think - more likely glazed pottery.

[chopin-liszt]

I think it's pottery too - possibly Canadian Blue Mountain?
Having said that, the feet do look a bit glassy,  :huh: it's just the rest of it doesn't.

[ahremck]

I agree I looks like it may be pottery - what does it weigh?  If it is not heavy then it will be pottery.  That said I would expect a piece like that to have evidence of a hole so that when the pottery was fired it did not explode from the steam inside the body.  I can't see somewhere where that might be.  If it is glass then you can work out its volume and multiply by approximately 2.5 times and that will give you the weight.

To work out the volume find a container large enough to submerge the cat.  Fill it with water until the cat is just submerged.  Mark the water level in the container.  Remove the cat.  With a measuring jug (best to use metric for this) fill the water until you are back up to the mark you made keeping note of how much water it takes.  Eg. 600mls.  Now just multiply by 2.5 and that is how many grams it should weigh (+ or- 10%).  In my example c. 1500gms = 1.5 Kgs.

If it is glass I think it is marvellous - would be proud to have found it.

Ross

[chopin-liszt]

Alternatively, (and possibly more accurately) weigh the water displacement. Your scales may be more accurate than a measuring jug.
1g of water = 1ml.

I'd agree, if it is glass, it's amazing!

[tinmine]

Thanks folks, it`s not ceramic that`s for sure, I will get a container and follow instructions, thank you.
 I think you advice is correct that it might not be glass but what else would scratch like that and have a bit of a ping! to it, saying all that it is rather warm to the touch not like glass. I will report back...Many thanks Steve

[ahremck]

Warm to the touch may indicate some sort of plastic - but even then it is a fascinating item.

Ross

[tinmine]

Hi folks the displacement is 500ml so should weigh 1.5 kilo, it doesn`t it weighs 900grams, so it`s not glass so without grinding into it I don`t know.Sorry for wasting your time you would think after 35 years of collecting I should of known... I might end up taking the grinder to the base just to satisfy my curiosity,will report back if I do.
Many thanks Steve

[Cathy B]

The evidence is that it's pottery, not plastic. Looking at the scratches on the base, it seems that some of the white base pottery is visible under the glaze, seen in your first & second images. Also, the base shows some bubbling (see your second picture on the bottom right corner), which is consistent with glaze.

Whatever, it's a very nice piece. This thread will have to go to the Cafe though.