Art Institute of Chicago

Baroque Pearl Mounted as a Cat Holding a Mouse

Spanish or south German

Date

17th century

Medium

Gold, enamel, and baroque pearl

Culture

Spain

Department

Applied Arts of Europe

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

This decorative personal object would have been fashionable on several levels in late 16th-century Spain. The flecked white enameling used to depict the cat's fur was used in many similar objects, and baroque pearls enjoyed great popularity for their uniqueness. This piece would have originally been on a chain or a pendant, as evidenced by the three small holes in the cat's ears and by its tail.

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