Novelty match holder with cat, Klimax Japan, mid C20th

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Auction Start: 09/09/25 17:45:00 UTC
Auction Ending: 24/09/25 19:38:00 UTC
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LOT NUMBER 20
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LOT NUMBER 20

Novelty match holder with cat, Klimax Japan, mid C20th

This is a novelty ceramic match holder made in the form of a cat, colourfully dressed with a slightly puzzled expression, holding a vase to contain the matches. The base is stamped in orange ‘Klimax’ ‘Hand painted’ ‘Foreign’. Little seems to be known of the firm, but they produced modest, hand painted decorative ceramics before and after the second world war for the export market. Their work is often similar to Noritake or very late Kutani pieces and concentrates on tableware and vases. These march holders seem much less common. The word ‘foreign’ was used by Japanese manufacturers when there was a feeling that the true country of origin should not be advertised. It was more common before the war but used sometimes afterwards, so a dating here to the 1940s or 1950s is the most likely. Not the most sophisticated ceramic item, but certainly an amusing one!
Size: Ht (max) 7.5cm, Width (max) 9.5cm, Depth (max) 5cm
Weight: 70gm
Date: Mid C20th
Condition: Good condition, no issues.
Estimate: £10 – 20

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