Yellow cat money box

I picked up this funny yellow ceramic cat money box at a flea market a few years ago. He was a bit bashed about and his ear had been glued back on but I just loved the bright acidic yellow glaze and his quite angry looking face.

I didn't know anything at all about it except that it was Italian, although I did think it was odd that the shape was the same as Lisa Larson ceramic cats. But recently while browsing on ebay I saw one for sale. Handily, the seller identified it as being made by Baldelli Pottery. It also confirmed that these ceramics were often based on designs by Stig Lindberg and Lisa Larson for Gustavsberg Pottery.

I have also found a whole blog dedicated to collecting them and another blog showing some of the other animal designs.