Lot 82: A Pair of Royal Crown Derby Old Imari Porcelain Siamese Cat and Kitten Paperweights

A pair of Royal Crown Derby porcelain paperweights in the Siamese Cat and Siamese Kitten models. Each piece is crafted from English fine bone china and decorated in the traditional Old Imari pattern 1128. The decoration comprises a palette of cobalt blue and iron red with intricate 22-carat gold floral and geometric scrollwork. The figurines are modelled in stylized seated poses with elongated necks.

The larger figurine features a red printed backstamp to the base with the date code LXI, indicating a manufacture year of 1998. It is fitted with a gold-coloured metal stopper embossed with the Royal Crown Derby logo, denoting it as a first quality piece. A small hand-painted purple mark in the form of a c is also present. The smaller kitten figurine is fitted with a silver-coloured metal stopper, which typically indicates it was sold as second quality. A partial red printed mark including the numerals IX is visible on the porcelain base.