1960s Hand-Carved Folk Art Wooden Striped Cat - Mid-Century Primitive Whimsy

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At Turtle & Crane, we turn the past into stunning décor for today, and this tall tiger-striped cat is a … Read more At Turtle & Crane, we turn the past into stunning décor for today, and this tall tiger-striped cat is a good example. Hand-carved from a single piece of wood with a charmingly naive expression, it wears bold black stripes over a creamy white ground, with a soft brown wash that lets the grain show through. The wide red-rimmed eyes, dotted muzzle, and painted whiskers give it a look somewhere between wary and amused. It is mid-century primitive whimsy in the spirit of Alexander Girard's love of folk art, and unlike mass-produced decor, it carries the distinct mark of the artisan's hand.

The cat stands 20 inches tall on a base 4 inches wide and 4 inches deep. That slim silhouette fits a narrow mantel, a Palm Beach Regency bookshelf, a console table, or the floor beside a chair, where it cuts through the seriousness of fine antiques with a dash of pure joy. It works just as well in a curated Mid-Century Modern vignette or a layered, maximalist room, and its black and white palette goes with nearly everything.

The finish is original and has aged naturally. Nothing has been repainted or restored.

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