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ID #SA1239595
FOR SALE
£695
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Antique 19th Century Unhinged Folk Art Oil on Canvas Painting of a Demented Cat
For sale by Folk and Fable Antiques
for sale €813     $883
£695
Folk and Fable Antiques

Folk and Fable Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2026
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Id #SA1239595
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Antique 19th Century Unhinged Folk Art Oil on Canvas Painting of a Demented Cat

19th century
Description

An unhinged 19th century folk art oil painting that perfectly captures the chaotic energy of a bad decision meeting immediate consequences.

A terrified, wide eyed cat with a fanged hiss of utter betrayal, lured by spilt milk, has slammed its paws straight into a heavy metal trap. The reverse side features an original heavily aged wooden stretcher with centre crossbeam reinforcement.

A bizarre piece of decorative folk art that’ll bring questions to any room you choose to hang it in!

Condition is good, commensurate with age. Structurally sound. Retaining its strong imagery and moody colours.

Measures 52cm x 42cm x 3cm

Weighs 1050 grams

Physical Dimensions
Height
52cm (20.47")
Width
42cm (16.54")
Depth
3cm (1.18")
Declaration

Folk and Fable Antiques has dated this Antique Cat Oil Painting to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1239595
Description
An unhinged 19th century folk art oil painting that perfectly captures the chaotic energy of a bad decision meeting immediate consequences.
“
A terrified, wide eyed cat with a fanged hiss of utter betrayal, lured by spilt milk, has slammed its paws straight into a heavy metal trap.
Folk and Fable Antiques

The reverse side features an original heavily aged wooden stretcher with centre crossbeam reinforcement.

fig 1. A 19th-century unframed oil painting on canvas showing a dark cat positioned beside an overturned bowl on a dark background.
fig 1. Antique 19th Century Unhinged Folk Art Oil on Canvas Painting of a Demented Cat

A bizarre piece of decorative folk art that’ll bring questions to any room you choose to hang it in!

Condition is good, commensurate with age. Structurally sound. Retaining its strong imagery and moody colours.

Measures 52cm x 42cm x 3cm

Weighs 1050 grams

Height
52cm (20.47")
Width
42cm (16.54")
Depth
3cm (1.18")
Date of Manufacture

Folk and Fable Antiques has dated this Antique Cat Oil Painting to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1239595
Folk and Fable Antiques
Folk and Fable Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2026
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Folk and Fable Antiques Profile Page

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A 19th-century unframed oil painting on canvas showing a dark cat positioned beside an overturned bowl on a dark background.
1 / 10
Archive I A 19th-century unframed oil painting on canvas showing a dark cat positioned beside an overturned bowl on a dark background.

Antique 19th Century Unhinged Folk Art Oil on Canvas Painting of a Demented Cat

Archive II A 19th-century unframed oil painting on canvas showing a dark cat positioned beside an overturned bowl on a dark background. View II
Archive III A 19th-century unframed oil painting on canvas showing a dark cat positioned beside an overturned bowl on a dark background. View III
Archive IV A 19th-century unframed oil painting on canvas showing a dark cat positioned beside an overturned bowl on a dark background. View IV
Archive V A 19th-century unframed oil painting on canvas showing a dark cat positioned beside an overturned bowl on a dark background. View V
Archive VI A 19th-century unframed oil painting on canvas showing a dark cat positioned beside an overturned bowl on a dark background. View VI
Archive VII A 19th-century unframed oil painting on canvas showing a dark cat positioned beside an overturned bowl on a dark background. View VII
Archive VIII A 19th-century unframed oil painting on canvas showing a dark cat positioned beside an overturned bowl on a dark background. View VIII
Archive IX A 19th-century unframed oil painting on canvas showing a dark cat positioned beside an overturned bowl on a dark background. View IX
Archive X A 19th-century unframed oil painting on canvas showing a dark cat positioned beside an overturned bowl on a dark background. View X
Enlarged Archival View
Folk and Fable Antiques

Folk and Fable Antiques
Telephone 07788216610
Location
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/folkandfable
Verified Since Oct 2026
Items For Sale 14
Folk and Fable Antiques
Folk and Fable Antiques
Verified Since Oct 2026
View Dealer Info
Location: United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/folkandfable
Verified
Oct 2026
For Sale
14
A 19th-century unframed oil painting on canvas showing a dark cat positioned beside an overturned bowl on a dark background.
Antique 19th Century Unhinged Folk Art Oil On Canvas Painting Of A Demented Cat
Ref: SA1239595
A 19th-century unframed oil painting on canvas showing a dark cat positioned beside an overturned bowl on a dark background.
Detail View 1
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectOil Painting
  • Period19th century
  • StyleFolk Art
  • MaterialOil on Canvas, Wood
  • ColourDark Brown
  • MotifsExpressive feline figure, Overturned ceramic bowl, Chiaroscuro background
  • SizeH 52 cm (20 in) x W 42 cm (17 in) x D 3 cm (1 in)

This nineteenth-century oil painting on canvas is an example of Victorian and Gothic folk art, depicting a dark brown expressive feline figure with a fanged hiss and wide eyes beside an overturned ceramic bowl on a chiaroscuro background. The artwork includes a heavy metal trap caught by the cat's paws, an original heavily aged wooden stretcher with centre crossbeam reinforcement, and a visible wood grain edge around the unvarnished canvas. Measuring 52 cm high, 42 cm wide, and 3 cm deep, the painting is structurally sound and retains good condition with strong imagery and moody colours. Displaying a bizarre and chaotic scene, the piece suits placement above a sideboard in a living room, hallway, or study. The composition relies on dark brown tones contrasting with the pale spilled liquid from the bowl and the lighter highlights on the cat's chest, creating a moody atmosphere. It hangs flat against a wall using standard picture-hanging hardware attached to the wooden frame support structure on the reverse.

FAQs

Nineteenth-century folk art animal paintings were typically created by self-taught or itinerant artists outside formal academies. These works are defined by flattened perspectives, expressive line work, and a focus on capturing the distinct identity of domestic pets or livestock.

Artists during this period commonly applied hand-ground oil pigments suspended in linseed oil onto natural fibre canvases, such as linen or cotton, stretched over wooden keys and frames.

Authentic period canvases typically exhibit natural age craquelure across the paint surface, oxidisation on the reverse of the fabric, hand-cut wooden stretcher bars, and historic tack or nail fastenings along the edges.

Antique folk art pieces serve as focal points when placed against neutral wall tones or integrated into gallery walls alongside contemporary works to create visual contrast and historic character.

Keep oil paintings away from direct sunlight, extreme humidity, and direct heat sources. Dust the surface lightly with a dry, soft-bristled brush and consult a professional conservator for cleaning or structural repairs.
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