Contributed by Maine Historical Society
- MMN #152018
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Description
Sandy was a Maine Coon cat who lived with the Stevens family in Portland. The Maine Coon breed originated in Maine and was a very popular pet around 1900, when Sandy was part of the Stevens home.
Maine Coons have long and thick fur coats, tufted ears, and snowshoe feet, leading to numerous origin stories. Some suggest they are raccoon or bobcat hybrids or descendants of Norwegian Forest cats, brought to Maine on Viking ships. In reality, the Maine Coon trace their lineage to English settler colonialists who started communities in Maine in the 1600s. Today, the Maine Coon is the state of Maine cat.
Sarah Stevens painted this portrait of Sandy after the cat died. She wrote, "My heart is broken, dear little friend, good-bye, Sandy Stevens, 1903" on the back of this artwork.
About This Item
- Title: Sandy the cat, Portland, 1903
- Creator: Sarah Reed Stevens
- Creation Date: 1903
- Subject Date: 1903
- Location: Portland, Cumberland County, ME
- Media: Paint on porcelain
- Dimensions: 26.4 cm x 19.6 cm
- Local Code: Coll. 2138, 2003.261.005
- Collection: Stevens/Aageson family collection
- Object Type: Physical Object
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For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
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This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. No Permission is required to use the low-resolution watermarked image for educational use, or as allowed by the applicable copyright. For all other uses, permission is required.
More to Consider
Item 14973
Howard Reed Stevens with Sandy the cat, Portland, ca. 1900
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