Purrquoise Cat Enamel Keychain

The sculpture reproduction of a cat, fondly known as Purrquoise, that inspired this keychain is made of Chinese porcelain. Glazed in a luminous turquoise, a hole on the lower part of the spine suggests that the cat originally served as an incense burner. Created for export to Europe, the cat was adorned in mid-eighteenth-century France with eyes in enameled glass and mounted on a gilt bronze stool with a richly ornamented cushion. These transformed pieces were highly desirable by the most discerning collectors. Purrquoise is said to have been part of the collection of the Marquise de Pompadour.

- Material: Metal and Enamel 
- Dimensions: 1.75 in. L x 2.5 in. W (4.5 in. including keychain)
- Made in China
- Item #: KEYPURRQ

Source Object:
Title: Cat
Artist/Maker: Unknown
Cultures: Chinese and French
Place: China and France
Date: 1700–1755
Medium: Porcelain, glass, and gilded bronze
Object Number: 2024.127
Dimensions: 45 × W: 30 × D: 22 cm (17 11⁄16 × 11 13⁄16 × 8 11⁄16 in.)

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