This is an amazing and quirky glazed ceramic cat necklace by designer Candace Loheed for RubyZ.
Dating to the 1980s it features a striped cat and colourful beads. Definitely a cat with 'Cattitude'!
It is in excellent vintage condition. There is a slight crazing effect to some of the cylindrical beads. See images. It is difficult to tell if this is original or just wear over time. Either way it does not detract from the piece or it's wearability.
One of the beads at the clasp carries the Candace Loheed name together with the RubyZ copyright. More information on her and her work can be found below.
The fastener is a screw barrel clasp in a silver tone metal.
Measurements
Cat pendant
Height 4ins
Width 2ins
Necklace length 22ins
Candace Loheed is a San Francisco-based artist and designer best known for her highly collectible, hand painted ceramic jewellery. Since the early 1970s, her work has been defined by whimsical, animal-themed, and nature-inspired designs produced under the labels Parrot Pearls and RubyZ
Loheed co-founded her original company, Parrot Pearls, in 1975 in San Francisco. In 1980, she and partner Bean Finneran formed Ruby Z, a spin-off that continued to produce her signature ceramic designs until 1995.
Her signature style:
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Medium: Hand-painted ceramic pieces, often featuring colorful beads and intricate textures.
- Common Motifs: Animals (such as cats, pandas, zebras, and tropical fish), flowers, and whimsical shapes like hearts and bows.
- Closures: Frequently uses large, stylized screw-in barrel closures.
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Signatures: Authentic pieces are often signed on the back of a centerpiece or on a specific signature bead near the clasp, marked with "RUBY Z" on one side and "CANDACE LOHEED" on the reverse.
Because her original ceramic companies are no longer in production, most of her classic work is found through vintage and resale markets and is becoming harder to find.
