Susan Parkinson Mouse

A small yet superbly sculptured Mouse by Susan Parkinson, 1956.

By the late 1950’s, Britain’s economy was finally picking up following WWII, and the Parkinson’s began to supply their ceramics to ‘fancy goods’ shops, which were largely catering for the holiday souvenir trade. The model which lead them in this direction was model no. 71, the mouse. Parkinson’s mouse was designed especially for a gift shop in the Cornish fishing village of Mousehole, and was later offered to other retailers. 

The mouse is one of Susan Parkinson’s most popular designs, and contains all of the character and stylisation associated with her wonderful work. The life-sized mouse consists of an oval body with large, round ears. The piece has been decorated in Parkinson’s signature monochromatic fashion with swift brushstrokes, and contains beautifully subtle flourishes that reveal the distinct character of the animal; tiny feet, delicate whiskers, and a twirling tail. The figurine’s eyes are large & abstract, and indicate Parkinson’s playfulness. Painted in an abstract spiral, or “swiss roll”,  the figurine’s eyes are a signature of Parkinson’s work and are a feature of many designs.

Two mice are currently available via this listing, Mouse 1 is first presented in the images. And, following the mood shot with miniature vases, Mouse 2 can be inspected.