Cat Pen Wipe

This is a figural pen wipe in the form of a cat.

Description

• The Figure: The cat is depicted in a lively, inquisitive stance. One front paw is slightly advanced, and its head is turned with an alert, focused expression.  Its long tail is held high with a graceful “S” curve at the tip, a sign of a happy and confident cat.
• The “Fur”: A circular bundle of natural stiff bristles (boar hair) is inset into the center of the cat’s back. In this context, the bristles look like a natural extension of the cat’s thick coat.
• Material and Detail: The piece is made of metal with a dark, rich patina. The casting is remarkably detailed, showing individual tufts of fur around the neck (the “ruff”), finely modeled ears, and a well-defined face with focused eyes.
• The Base: The bottom of the paws are flat.

Mark:

There is a small, stamped mark on the underside of the cat’s front right paw. The mark consists of two uppercase letters: “FG”.

Maker Identification

This specific “FG” stamp identifies the piece as a product of Fritz Gross, a noted Austrian sculptor and manufacturer active in Vienna.

• The Foundry: Fritz Gross was one of several high-quality foundries operating during the peak of the Vienna Bronze (Wiener Bronzen) movement.
• The Style: Fritz Gross was highly respected for his naturalistic animal figures.
• Dating: Based on this hallmark and the naturalistic, playful modeling of the cat, the piece was likely manufactured in Vienna, Austria, between 1890 and 1910.

Historical Function

Despite its artistic form, this was a highly practical tool for a late 19th-century desk:

• Nib Cleaning: It served as a figural pen wipe. A writer would periodically dip their steel nib into the stiff bristles on the cat’s back to remove dried ink and paper fibers.
• Desk Weight: Because it is solid cast metal, it also functioned as a paperweight, keeping documents in place while the writer worked.