A very rare 1960s Italian Quadrifoglio Cat money bank, designed by Milvia

Description

Originally known only as ‘The Flower Painter’, the designer of these quirky, cool and quasi-kitsch mid-century modern ceramics has now been revealed to be an Italian lady called Milvia. She was the designer for a company called Quadrifoglio - the Italian word for ‘four-leafed clover’ - which was founded in 1955 and produced into the 1960s.

Her designs are instantly recognisable (and much-loved!) due to the cheerful and jaunty designs executed by hand in an underglaze crayon effect. Eleganty dressed ladies, stylish gentlemen, cars, and a menagerie of animals are depicted in bright colours and jaunty, sometimes spikey, lines.

This cat bears the company mark, ‘ITALY’, and some information that probably relates to the client. There’s also a label for Mr Norman, an American distributor of giftwares. 

This is the only piece of Quadrifoglio that I’ve seen that isn’t a vase, dish, bowl or lampbase, so I had to have it when I found it in Pennsylvania years ago. It’s been in my private collection ever since.  
 
18.5cm high, 10cm widest

Condition
Excellent original vintage condition. Undamaged, noting a tiny chip or glaze skip on top of one ear and visual glaze crazing typical of many of these pieces.

Shipping
Postage and packing is free within the UK. If you live outside the UK, please contact me to obtain a shipping quote. I pack and ship at cost, and do not make any money from this service. Items are sent via Royal Mail signed and tracked services, but I am happy to use another service at your request.