Where artistry, heritage and a touch of magic come together to create York’s iconic original lucky cats.
A Celebration of York’s
Culture & Creativity
York Original Lucky Cats was born from a simple idea: to capture the charm, history and whimsical spirit of York in a small piece of handcrafted art.
Inspired by the city’s iconic cat statues perched above streets and doorways, each of our glass cats is created to bring joy, positivity and good fortune into homes around the world.
What started as a small creative project has grown into a distinctive collection of artisan-made glass figurines – each one crafted with exceptional care by skilled local glass artists. Our mission is to honour York’s heritage while bringing a touch of magic to everyday life.
How We Make Our Original York Lucky Cats
Lampworking is a form of glasswork that uses a torch flame to melt and shape glass. Here’s how our artisans bring each piece to life:
- Heating the Glass: The glass rod is slowly heated to around 1500°C, becoming molten and pliable.
- Shaping by Hand: With specialised tools, delicate movements, and years of expertise, the artist shapes the molten glass into a cat—adding curves, ears, tails and personality.
- Creating the Details: Additional colours and features are added while the glass is still glowing-hot, requiring precision, timing and steady hands.
- Cooling & Finishing: Each piece is slowly cooled, inspected and polished to ensure clarity, shine, and durability.
Our York Original Lucky Cats are designed in York, inspired by the city’s historic feline guardians, and crafted locally by talented glass artists who continue this traditional method with passion and skill.
Every cat is truly unique – no moulds, no mass-production – just pure craftsmanship.
The VALUES of york Original lucky cats
Craftsmanship
We celebrate the artistry and tradition of lampworking, a technique that requires patience, precision, and years of training.
Creativity
Our designs pay homage to York’s heritage and each piece is created by local glass makers who bring their talent to every figurine.
Authenticity
No two York Lucky Cats are identical. Each has its own character, soul and charm, shaped lovingly by hand.
Meaning
Our cats carry the spirit of good fortune and cheer – perfect as gifts, collectors’ items or tokens of positivity.