Pair of Antique Louis Wain Cat Prints in Carved Wooden Frames, Early 20th Century

Product Description

A wonderfully characterful pair of early 20th-century printed illustrations by celebrated British artist Louis Wain, best known for his humorous scenes of cats behaving just like people.

Printed in a striking palette of red and black, both illustrations show groups of cats gathered in richly detailed domestic interiors. The patterned wallpaper, folding screen, framed pictures, plants and upholstered furniture offer a delightful glimpse of a traditional British home reimagined for its feline inhabitants.

Look closely and even the chairs and tables have elegant cabriole legs, a wonderfully appropriate detail in a household occupied entirely by cats. It is precisely this kind of playful observation that makes Louis Wain’s illustrations so enjoyable to revisit.

Each illustration includes a printed Louis Wain signature within the image.

The matching wooden frames are another particularly appealing feature. Their slim borders are decorated with a repeating geometric carved pattern that gives them a subtly bamboo-inspired appearance. The warm brown finish works beautifully with the red and black illustrations, while the small scale makes the pair easy to display together or incorporate into a larger gallery wall.

The old glass, backing boards and hanging fittings remain in place, preserving the wonderfully authentic appearance of the pair.

The two prints are sold together.

Key Features

• Pair of early 20th-century Louis Wain printed illustrations
• Believed to date from around 1900 to the 1920s
• Humorous domestic scenes featuring anthropomorphic cats
• Printed in a striking red and black palette
• Printed Louis Wain signature within each image
• Matching carved wooden frames
• Repeating geometric pattern with a subtly bamboo-inspired appearance
• Old glass
• Old backing boards and hanging fittings

• Sold as a pair

Size

Each

(W) 15cm

(H) 19cm

(D) 1cm

Condition

In good antique condition with a beautifully aged appearance. The prints show some foxing and gentle rippling to the paper, while the carved wooden frames remain in very good condition, with only a few tiny chips to the reverse corners. The paper tape on the backs shows wear consistent with age.

Please refer to all photographs for further details.

Materials

Printed paper, glass, carved and stained wood, card and paper backing, metal hanging fittings.