Doulton Lambeth Hannah Barlow Cats Biscuit Barrel

Description

For sale we have this outstanding quality Hannah Barlow biscuit barrel decorated with six cats in various states from relaxation to spats! The navy sgraffito work is some of the best we’ve seen and is a testament to her skills as a master ceramicist at Doulton Lambeth. This piece looks so good we decided to display it for a couple of years before deciding to put it up for sale. The barrel boasts one large work of a sleeping cat, two cats having a stand-off spat, and three others sitting and socialising. Such as endearing piece. The top and bottom borders are bands of mini florettes and blue rush groups repeated all the way around. Two blue lug handles finish the effect on either side.

Condition

Condition wise, there are a few things to mention here. First, and rather obviously, the lid has gone missing and this is an old replacement lid that came with the piece when we acquired it. The original lid would have been stoneware. Secondly, the top rim has two nibbles (one 5mm and the other 1mm) and the top inside rim also has two nibbles (one 8mm and the other 5mm). The base edge has one 2mm nibble. Other than this, there are no other cracks, chips or any restoration to the piece. The photos clearly show the condition.

Authenticity

For authenticity, beneath, we have Hannah Barlows “HBB” monogram together with the shape code 498 and the Doulton Lambeth cog and “England” present and correct. This places the production of the piece around the early 1890s.

If as a collector you can look past the lid and a few nibbles to the tremendous quality of this example, this is a piece that will give you a lot of enjoy.

Hannah Barlow

For those new to Hannah Barlow, she is one of the most famous artists. She is considered fully “Top 5” alongside George Tinworth, Mark V Marshall, John Broad and Frank Butler. Her work is prized internationally and is displayed in museums similarly worldwide. She used a wooden stylus and often incised her animals from memory, given her vast experience growing up with and drawing animals in rural settings. After an accident in the late 1870s, Hannah injured her right hand and taught herself to be just as skilled with her left hand. She was a true talent.

Hannah Barlow – Doulton Lambeth