David Hockney is thought for loving and portray his doggie companions, particularly his cheeky dachshunds, however the celebrated UK artist additionally made a fetching ceramic cat piece in his youth which went beneath the hammer at Stacey’s Auctioneers in Essex earlier this week, fetching a hefty £111,875 (with charges). Hockney’s moggie, co-created with Norman Stevens, has a captivating again story: the feline piece, estimated at £30,000 to £40,000, was made particularly for Peter Richards and his spouse who invited Hockney and Stevens into their cottage for a cup of tea throughout a storm when the younger artists had been hitchhiking from Bradford to London in 1955 (the cat was Hockney’s approach of claiming thanks). The arty cat and different Hockney gadgets, reminiscent of letters and greetings playing cards, had been on show at Grosvenor Gallery in London throughout Frieze week (clearly catnip to the plenty).
