T.S.Eliot author of Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats cat item for auction

T.S.Eliot, author of Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats

His great grandniece has a T.S. Eliot cat item for auction, including old family photographs, found in the attic of the family’s home. The author of Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats was no slouch –
T.S. Eliot wrote The Waste Land, published 1922 and considered

…by many to be the single most influential poetic work of the twentieth century, Eliot’s reputation began to grow to nearly mythic proportions; by 1930, and for the next thirty years, he was the most dominant figure in poetry and literary criticism in the English-speaking world.

  poetry.org

T.S.Eliot author Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats,

 

T.S.Eliot’s writings ranged from the dark despair of The Hollow Men, 1925, to the whimsical Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, 1939.  The name “Old Possum” came from Ezra Pound, his nickname for Eliot.

T.S.Eliot items auctioned

 

 

 

In 1982 the cover of the book was illustrated by the fabulous Edward Gorey.

T.S.Eliot old Possum’s book of cars

CATS
photo by Shari Smith Dunaif ©?2017

 

 

The book is the basis of the successful Broadway musical, Cats written by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

 

 

Eliot was born in St. Louis, Missouri, where he lived until he was sixteen. At six years old, he created this playful cat needlepoint as a Christmas gift; it’s signed “Tom” in pencil on the back.

Macavity’s a Mystery Cat: he’s called the Hidden Paw –
For he’s the master criminal who can defy the Law.
He’s the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad’s despair:
For when they reach the scene of crime – Macavity’s not there!

And they say that all the Cats whose wicked deeds are widely known
(I might mention Mungojerrie, I might mention Griddlebone)
Are nothing more than agents for the Cat who all the time
Just controls their operations: the Napoleon of Crime!

T. S. EliotOld Possum’s Book of Practical Cats

author of "Cats" needlepoint

T.S. Eliot needlepoint
courtesy Heritage Auctions

The kitty needlepoint work is conservatively valued at $1,000. Bidding opens online this Friday and concludes online and as a live auction in Dallas on September 14, 2017.

Japan Society Life of Cats

Japan Society Life of Cats

My Kitty Care visited The Japan Society Life of Cats. The Japan Society is located on 333 E 47th St, New York, NY 10017. Life of Cats was a wonderful exhibit with exquisite prints and paintings from Japan: art with cats, and about cats, in Japanese culture. The earliest dates to the Edo Period (1615-1867) and the most current is a lovely contemporary print from the 1930’s. It portrays cats historically in Japanese culture, ranging from funny, diabolic, and sweet to beautiful and touching. Cats remain integral to the Japanese.
My Kitty Care’s Japanese Hiraki Ukiyo-e Cat Prints is a video of the pieces in the exhibit, which is not only for cat lovers, but also art lovers and people interested in Japanese art and culture.

Japan Society Life of Cats 1845 print

detail from Housewife swats cat, 1845

My Kitty Care loved this show – why wouldn’t we? It is about cats, art, culture, beauty and fun. Enjoy this 6 mins. video Japanese Hiraki Ukiyo-e Cat Prints, Japan Society Life of Cats on my kitty care youtube channel.

 

Bali temple cat sculptures

Balinese cats in art

Bali temple cat sculptures are exquisite, and many temples in Bali have them. My Kitty Care saw these cool Bali temple cat sculptures in Pemuteran, northern Bali. There’s several small, but lovely temples there: The Pulaki Temple, Pura Pabean and Pura Segara. Although these temples are visited by tourists, they are mostly used by the local Balinese.

Bali temple cat sculpture

Bali temple cat sculpture
photo by shari smith dunaif 2015

Bali temple cat sculpture

Bali temple cat sculpture photo by shari smith dunaif 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      In Hinduism, cats are a symbol of fertility.

Bali temple cat sculpture with teeth

grey Bali temple cat sculpture with teeth photo by shari smith dunaif 2015

Cats in Japanese art

Cats in Japanese art

Cats in Japanese art is an old, long tradition. For all cat lovers and art lovers: visit The hiraki-ukiyo-e collection, currently at the Japan Society in New York City, an exhibition titled Life of Cats.
The Japan Society
“Life of Cats: Selections from the Hiraki Ukiyo-e Collection illustrates the depth of this mutual attraction by mining the wealth of bravura depictions of cats to be found in ukiyo-e woodblock prints of the Edo Period (1615-1867). The exhibition is divided into five sections: Cats and People, Cats as People, Cats versus People, Cats Transformed and Cats and Play. 90 ukiyo-e prints in the exhibition are on loan from the esteemed Hiraki Ukiyo-e Foundation whose holdings are revered in Japan.”            –  From the Japan Society exhibit synopsis.

hiraki-ukiyo-e-collection

hiraki-ukiyo-e-collection

The exhibit runs thru June 7, 2015. For admission information, museum hours, etc. click on Japan Society information

My Kitty Care is exited about attending – watch for post!