Mystery moggie is purrfect example of majolica rarity value

WHILE the five and six-figure trade in 15th-17th century Italian maiolica thrives (see the Beausssant-Lefèvre sale of the Guerlain Collection, ATG No 2280), the market for its 19th century emanation, majolica, has remained soft since American enthusiasm for it began to cool in the 1990s.