Figure of a Cat, ca. 1730. Unknown artist (English). Variegated earthenware with lead glaze (agateware). Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Frank P. Burnap.
The 18th century marked the beginning of English figure manufacture on a commercial scale. Made with molds, these forms could be reproduced at a reasonable cost, which attracted the middle class, the main patrons of earthen and stoneware objects. Familiar figures of both animals and humans, including men and women in everyday pursuits, appealed to conservative sensibilities. Both domestic and foreign animals were popular subjects.
While many animal forms were decorative, some also served as functional objects.
